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SKOPJE, Macedonia -- Macedonian officials on Thursday refused to shelter more than 450 Gypsies threatened by ethnic Albanian attacks in Kosovo, insisting they should be protected by international peacekeepers in the province.
The Gypsies, also known as Roma, have been sitting on the Yugoslav side of their shared border since Tuesday evening. They say they fled because of attacks by ethnic Albanian militants and food shortages.
Angered by the government's refusal to accept the refugees, Macedonia's Gypsy community threatened to block all border crossings unless their fellow Gypsies from Kosovo are allowed in.
"All the Roma in Macedonia will rise and block the border crossings to Kosovo," said Amdi Bajram, the leader of the Macedonian Roma or Gypsies.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also has appealed to Macedonia to allow them in. Ivana Ulova, a spokeswoman for the UNHCR in Macedonia, said the Macedonian government will discuss the refugee issue on Friday.
But Macedonian officials are arguing that Kosovo is no longer in war and that its residents have protection from NATO-led international peacekeepers stationed in the province.
"The responsibility and care for these people rests with KFOR," said Macedonia's health and welfare minister Bedredin Ibrahimi, referring to the Kosovo peacekeepers. He added that "these people have substantial guarantees for their safety in Kosovo."
The Kosovo Gypsies and the U.N. official who had lived with them in the Krusevac camp near Kosovo capital of Pristina say that the camp had no protection and had received little aid since it was established in June.
Kosovo's ethnic Albanians have accused the Gypsies of cooperating with Yugoslav forces in the explusion of than 800,000 ethnic Albanians from their homes. Tens of thousands of non-Albanians have fled Kosovo since the Yugoslav forces pulled out in June and NATO moved in.