European Union mediators have invited Macedonia's squabbling politicians to talks Friday in Vienna in a bid to defuse a new political crisis.
The four invitees included former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, head of the country's dominant conservative party and opposition Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev. It was unclear whether they will all accept.
Macedonia is facing new political turmoil after the country's president pardoned dozens of politicians who were facing criminal proceedings for alleged involvement in a wiretapping scandal. The pardons, issued ahead of an early election planned for June 5, have prompted daily opposition protests.
Another protest is planned for later Monday.
The election, halfway through Gruevski's term in office, was called under an internationally-mediated bid to end a months-long political crisis triggered by wiretapping and corruption scandals.
