Reports: Situation tense in wake of Macedonia murders

The bodies of five men, believed to have been murdered late on Thursday, were found near the Macedonian capital of Skopje, the Macedonian police said. Police did not reveal the identities of the victims, but local residents "presume that they are of Macedonian ethnicity", said media reports. Reports: Situation tense in wake of Macedonia murders The victims are believed to be four young residents of the Skopje suburb of Radisani, all in their early 20s, and a local 45-year-old villager. The local man is believed to have stumbled upon the scene by accident before he was killed. Villagers who live near the scene where the bodies were found in the village of Creshevo said that they heard shots fired at around 20:00 CET on Thursday, and that the victims were discovered close to an artificial lake, where they most likely spent Thursday afternoon fishing. Unofficial reports from Macedonia on Friday said that villagers from Smiljkovci and Creshevo, who are blaming ethnic Albanians for the murders, are blocking roads, while in Radisani Albanian houses are reportedly being "stoned", while a bus has been "set on fire". The bodies were found late last night by local fishermen. Two passenger cars, with doors open, could be seen nearby. Macedonian police are yet to confirm the veracity of these statements, or give any other details. They kept the scene cordoned off as forensic experts and an investigative judge were collecting evidence. Macedonian media in the meantime report that the victims were killed execution-style: made to stand one next to another before they were shot, with four of the five bodies found in a position suggestive of this theory. Macedonian police are seen near the scene of the murders (Tanjug) B92 Beta Tanjug

Reports: Situation tense in wake of Macedonia murders

The victims are believed to be four young residents of the Skopje suburb of Radišani, all in their early 20s, and a local 45-year-old villager.

The local man is believed to have stumbled upon the scene by accident before he was killed.

Villagers who live near the scene where the bodies were found in the village of Creshevo said that they heard shots fired at around 20:00 CET on Thursday, and that the victims were discovered close to an artificial lake, where they most likely spent Thursday afternoon fishing.

Unofficial reports from Macedonia on Friday said that villagers from Smiljkovci and Creshevo, who are blaming ethnic Albanians for the murders, are blocking roads, while in Radišani Albanian houses are reportedly being "stoned", while a bus has been "set on fire".

The bodies were found late last night by local fishermen. Two passenger cars, with doors open, could be seen nearby.

Macedonian police are yet to confirm the veracity of these statements, or give any other details. They kept the scene cordoned off as forensic experts and an investigative judge were collecting evidence.

Macedonian media in the meantime report that the victims were killed execution-style: made to stand one next to another before they were shot, with four of the five bodies found in a position suggestive of this theory.