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World

Macedonia: Opposition leader accuses premier of attempting to cover up police killing

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    Protestors take a selfie in front of a police cordon during a demonstration in front of the Government building in Skopje Macedonia, on Tuesday, May 5, 2015. Macedonia's opposition leader has accused the country's prime minister of attempting to cover up the 2011 death of a 22-year-old who was beaten by police during post-election celebrations. More than 1,000 people gathered later Tuesday in front of the government building to protest the murder of the young conservative supporter. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) (The Associated Press)

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    Police block protestors at the entrance of the Government building during a protest in Skopje Macedonia, on Tuesday, May 5, 2015. Macedonia's opposition leader has accused the country's prime minister of attempting to cover up the 2011 death of a 22-year-old who was beaten by police during post-election celebrations. More than 1,000 people gathered later Tuesday in front of the government building to protest the murder of the young conservative supporter. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) (The Associated Press)

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    A protestor gives a flower to a police officer during a protest in front of the Government building in Skopje Macedonia, on Tuesday, May 5, 2015. Macedonia's opposition leader has accused the country's prime minister of attempting to cover up the 2011 death of a 22-year-old who was beaten by police during post-election celebrations. More than 1,000 people gathered later Tuesday in front of the government building to protest the murder of the young conservative supporter. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) (The Associated Press)

SKOPJE, Macedonia – Macedonia's opposition leader has accused the country's prime minister of attempting to cover up the 2011 death of a 22-year-old who was beaten by police during post-election celebrations.

Social Democrat head Zoran Zaev released a dozen audio recordings Tuesday in which people purported to be Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, the country's intelligence chief, its interior minister and other officials discuss how to cover up the death of Martin Neskoski.

Neskoski was a supporter celebrating Gruevski's election win. A member of the prime minister's security and special police unit was convicted of his murder and sentenced to 14 years in prison.

More than 1,000 people gathered later Tuesday in front of the government building to protest the murder of the young conservative supporter.

"Murderers, murderers," protesters chanted and broke the police cordon at one moment, but were prevented from entering the government building. The protestors were also demanding that the conservative cabinet should resign.

Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska has described the opposition leader's claims as "absurd," accusing Zoran Zaev of creating "monstrous constructions .grim scenarios only to achieve his political goal."

She said the interior ministry did everything in its power to find the person who murdered Neskoski.

Zaev accuses Gruevski of illegally wiretapping 20,000 Macedonians. He says unspecified people gave him the recordings, which he has been publishing.

Gruevski says the wiretaps were done by foreign spies and accuses Zaev of plotting a coup.