Macedonia Says Anti-Terror Killings Were Staged

SKOPJE, Macedonia — Police gunned down seven immigrants and then claimed that they were terrorists in a 2002 killing staged to show that the officers were fighting terrorism, authorities said Friday.

Police spokeswoman Mirjana Konteska told reporters that six people -- three former police commanders, two special police officers and a businessman -- had been charged with murder. If convicted, they could receive sentences ranging from 10 years to life in prison.

“That was an act of a sick mind,” Konteska said after a two-year investigation. “They ... ordered the brutal murder of the seven Pakistani men.”

She described a meticulous plan to promote Macedonia as a player in the fight against global terrorism that involved smuggling the Pakistanis into Macedonia from Bulgaria, housing them, and then coldly gunning them down.

Since breaking away from Yugoslavia in 1991, Macedonia has been eager to win U.S. political and economic support in its efforts for acceptance into the Western camp of nations.

Macedonia has been a close U.S. ally in the Balkans. It has staunchly supported the U.S.-led war on terrorism and sent troops to Iraq.

The “Rastanski Lozja” action was carried out in March 2002 by special police who claimed to have eliminated a terrorist group allegedly plotting to attack embassies and foreign representatives in Macedonia.

Konteska said that the seven Pakistanis were in fact illegal immigrants who were lured into Macedonia by promises that they would be transferred to Western Europe.

She refused to directly name all the suspects. Konteska mentioned, however, that police generals Goran Stojkov and Boban Utkovski and senior police official Aleksandar Cvetkovski were among the people who were allegedly involved.

She also named former Interior Minister Ljube Boskovski, who is a parliament deputy, in connection with the shootings.

Boskovski denied the allegations, telling reporters that he and his associates received a tip about the alleged Pakistani terrorists from unidentified “American intelligence officers.”

Konteska, however, said a forensic and ballistic investigation confirmed the action was staged.