Individuals and groups with criminal, not political motives are operating in the crisis regions, Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski said following yesterday's session of the National Security Council. The attack near Tanusevci, the situation in Kosovo, and the security situation in Macedonia were the main issues discussed at this session.

"According to the Interior Ministry, there is no evidence that these individuals and groups are mutually related with a common ideological or political platform for operation. But we are not underestimating the risk of someone instrumentalizing these factors for political objectives," Crvenkovski stressed.