Troops to step up role in Macedonia Albanian rebels

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Nato is poised to help the Macedonian government disarm ethnic Albanian rebels and bolster the country's fragile government if political leaders can forge an agreement within 10 days.

Although most of Nato's big military powers are wary of further large troop deployments, Javier Solana, the EU's representative for foreign affairs, yesterday suggested that a more limited role is likely.

At the EU summit in Gothenburg Mr Solana was asked whether Nato would be prepared to help, and he replied: "I think the answer probably is yes, but only on the collection of weapons from the disarmament of rebels."

Both the Macedonian government and the rebels have asked for more Nato involvement. But, before taking on any new role, the EU wants to establish a political framework within which to work. It has set a deadline for this framework of 25 June, when foreign ministers meet in Luxembourg.

In the meantime, the EU is putting heavy pressure on the multi-ethnic Macedonian government to deliver reforms that would reassure its restive Albanian minority. The reforms include changes to the preamble to the constitution, more linguistic rights and a new university at Tetovo.

The parties have all agreed on the outline of reforms but not on the small print. Even a unified government position is unlikely to be accepted by the rebels, who want a blanket amnesty and a nationwide deployment of Nato troops.

At the Gothenburg summit the EU leaders also agreed a new document on the Middle East. This stakes out their claim to be a leading player in the peace process while expressing alarm at the predicament of the Palestinians.

Although the statement was carefully balanced, it warned of the risk of "Palestinian despair" and cautioned against any further undermining of the Palestinian Authority.

"While Israel's security preoccupations are understandable we also agree that, without the Palestinian Authority, there would be Palestinian anarchy," the paper says. It adds, however: "If Israel continues to be confronted by random terrorist attacks, remaining public support for the peace process risks being further undermined."

On Thursday, the US President, George Bush, said that both the EU and America were committed to the Mitchell peace plan.