Macedonian parliament approves detention of lawmakers

TIRANA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Macedonian parliament approved on Saturday the detention of two lawmakers over crimes allegedly committed during the country's 2001 ethnic conflict.

Hajrula Misini and Hisni Xhemaili are both from the ruling ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, news reaching here from Skopje reported.

Xhemaili is accused in the 2001 kidnapping and torture of four construction workers, while Missini is suspected of involvement in blocking reservoir water supply to a northern town.

Macedonia was brought onto the brink of civil war in 2001 when ethnic Albanians fought Macedonia's security forces for better treatment.

The disaster was averted after the August 2001 peace deal ended fighting and guaranteed ethnic Albanians representation in government, the army and the police force.

Ethnic Albanians account for a quarter of Macedonia's 2.1 million population.