SKOPJE, Macedonia (Islamweb & News Agencies) - Macedonia appeared to step back from fresh civil warfare Monday when hundreds of special forces rumbled out of territory that is home to nervous former Albanian fighters after their foray triggered bloodshed.The partial pullout was coupled with the release of 39 Macedonians seized by ethnic Albanian fighters in retaliation for the arrests of former insurgents, reviving hopes for the former Yugoslav republic's peace accord.
In another development, a long-delayed session of parliament was rescheduled for Tuesday to adopt 15 constitutional amendments stipulated by the peace pact to improve the civil rights of the large Albanian minority.
EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana appealed to Macedonian leaders for restraint.
Tensions still simmered however because a special police unit remained in the Trebos area where they swept in Sunday.
They cordoned off what was called a mass grave and arrested seven former Albanian fighters, flouting a government commitment to a general amnesty.
Macedonian officials said fighting broke out after nightfall Sunday and three policemen were killed when Albanians blasted their position with a rocket.
Macedonian reporters, escorted to the area Monday by security forces, heard repeated machine gun bursts.
Ultra-nationalist Interior Minister Ljube Boskovski stunned peace sponsors by using ``Lion'' and ``Tiger'' commando units feared and hated by ethnic Albanians to occupy farmland said to contain bodies of Macedonians executed by Albanian fighters earlier this year.