At least eight police officers and 14 gunmen have been killed during a day-long gun battle in Macedonia.

The clashes happened in the northern town of Kumanovo, bordering Serbia.

Macedonia has blamed five Kosovans for leading the group, and were believed to be planning attacks on government targets.

30 of the militants are reported to have surrendered, while another 15 gunmen escaped. More than 35 other police officers are believed to have been injured in the clashes.

A spokesman for the country's interior ministry said, "more than 30 terrorists, mainly Macedonian nationals and one from Albania, surrendered yesterday to the police forces."

BBC reports that some of the militants were members of the now dismantled Kosovo Liberation Army. Similar clashes took place in 2001 between ethnic Albanian guerrillas and government forces.