An ethnic Albanian man has been shot dead and two more were injured in a gun battle on the eve of crucial elections seen as a test of Macedonia's peace process.

The election is the first since an internal rebellion by ethnic Albanians

A gang of about six men fired at police officers in a village near the western town of Tetovo in the same area where a policeman was killed on Thursday, a spokesman said.

The police - also ethnic Albanians - fired back and arrested two of the attackers, after which the others withdrew but then launched another assault.

"There was a second attack on the same policemen, during which one of the attackers was killed and two others hurt," the spokesman said.

Extremist fears

The shoot-out in the village of Celopek was the latest incident demonstrating the rising tension in the country before Sunday's crucial vote - the first since an internal rebellion brought the country to the brink of civil war last year.

Fears are mounting that extremists are intent on wrecking the election which is an important part of the Western-backed peace deal brokered between ethnic Albanian rebels and Macedonians.

On Thursday, a policeman was shot dead in the village of Bogovinje, also near Tetovo. Two other policemen were killed in the same area in late August.

Under a new law passed in June this year, there will be greater voter security, and an increased police presence around polling stations.