SKOPJE, Nov 7: Nationalist organizers of a referendum to stop Macedonia giving more local autonomy to its ethnic Albanian minority accused the government of flagrant cheating on Sunday, less than an hour before polls closed.

"In 20 per cent of the country, polling stations were not opened at all," said Todor Petrov of the World Macedonian Congress, which had forced the referendum by collecting around 180,000 signatures against a law on local self-government.

There had been cheating intended to deprive citizens of their right to vote so that the Socialist-led coalition, which includes a party of former Albanian guerrillas, could impose its "abnormal measures", he told reporters.

"The government should be aware of the consequences of this illegal action," Petrov added. Macedonia's nationalist opposition parties backed the referendum, which could overturn the Western-inspired local government bill.

Government officials were not immediately available for comment on the fraud allegations.-Reuters