Balkans: August 29, 2003

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Two Macedonian policeman (one a Slav and one an Albanian) were kidnapped by an Albanian nationalist group on August 27. The two people were released August 28. An Albanian rebel commander named Avdil Jakupi (aka "Jackal") claimed his men conducted the kidnapping. The policemen were going to arrest him Jakupi said, so he had them arrested. On August 29 the Macedonian government announced a zero tolerance policy for allegedly political kidnappings. The government basically said the security forces would act forcibly against opposition groups.