SKOPJE (AP) – FYROM lawmakers yesterday voted to lift the immunity from prosecution of the country’s former prime minister to allow his indictment for alleged corruption in an arms procurement deal. A total 59 deputies from the conservative-led governing coalition voted to lift Vlado Buckovski’s immunity. There was one formal abstention, while another lawmaker in the 120-seat house failed to cast a ballot, without explaining why. The opposition boycotted the vote. Prosecutors have asked for Buckovski, who is now an opposition lawmaker, to be arrested for his alleged involvement in the 2001 arms deal which they say cost the country 3 million euros. But police had been unable to arrest him while he retained immunity.

PRISTINA (AP) – Seven inmates escaped from a high-security prison over the weekend in western Kosovo, and police backed by NATO helicopters launched a manhunt throughout the province, authorities said yesterday. The convicts, on a scheduled walk in a yard at Dubrava Prison late Saturday, were supported by an armed group who shot at guards and at least one of the inmates participated in the gun battle, police spokesman Veton Elshani said. They were able to jump over a surrounding wall and fence. Two senior prison officials and two prison guards were arrested on suspicion of involvement, Elshani said. No injuries were reported.

Bulgaria’s customs agency announced yesterday its largest ever bust of smuggled money, saying it had seized more than 1 million US dollars at a border checkpoint with neighboring Turkey. The record sum of money (750,000 euros), in 100-dollar banknotes, was in 37 packages and stuffed in special compartments in a car traveling through the southeastern Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint to Turkey, a statement said. The bust was made on Friday. “The seizure is the biggest ever money-smuggling attempt intercepted by Bulgarian customs,” the statement said. National radio cited customs officials as saying the money came from the smuggling and sale of gold jewelry. The 42-year-old Bulgarian driver of the car was arrested. (AFP)