Police arrested four Kosovo Albanians after uncovering an arms haul in a vehicle travelling from Kosovo to Macedonia on Monday.
Speaking in the Kosovar capital of Pristina, police spokesman Veton Elshani said that the weapons were discovered in a car in a village in the Gjilan district. The arms were believed to be on their way to neighbouring Macedonia.

Police believe that the weapons, which were given to NATO-led peacekeepers responsible for securing Kosovo's borders, were apparently on their way to extremist groups in Macedonia.

The arms haul included 90 mortars and 47 rocket-propelled grenades as well as a large quantity of ammunition.

Kosovo and Macedonia have formed working groups to try to settle a border dispute concerning about 5000 acres of land given to Macedonia in a 2001 border deal between Serbia and Macedonian authorities. Kosovo leaders oppose the deal, claiming that Serbia had no control over the territory and no right to give it to Macedonia.

News reports in Kosovo say that masked ethnic Albanians have been seen brandishing weapons in the region bordering Macedonia and pledging to fight for the contested territory. NATO-led peacekeepers and Kosovo police have denied any knowledge of armed groups operating there.

Macedonia's leaders have linked the border dispute to their recognition of Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia in February. In Macedonia, tensions between ethnic Albanians and the Slav majority continue more than seven years after an ethnic Albanian insurgency.

A quarter of Macedonia's population is composed of ethnic Albanians. They fought a brief war against government forces in 2001. They demand immediate recognition of Kosovo's independence, greater use of the Albanian language and flag, and benefits for veterans of the guerrilla insurgency.