Macedonia's opposition claims government withheld evidence on journalist's fatal car crash

Macedonia's opposition leader has accused the conservative government of covering up evidence about the death of a journalist and prominent critic of the government in a car crash two years ago.

Social Democrat head Zoran Zaev cited illegally recorded phone conversations between government and police officials — the latest development in a massive wiretap scandal that has gripped the country for months.

Zaev called Thursday for a new investigation — which the government pledged to support — into the death of Focus magazine owner Nikola Mladenov. An initial probe found that the crash was an accident.

Zaev has accused Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of being behind the illegal wiretaps of about 20,000 people including journalists, judges, ambassadors and lawmakers.

Gruevski blames the wiretaps on foreign spies.