The Macedonian tour guide, who was on board of the ill-fated ship "Ilinden," which sunk Saturday in the Ohrid Lake killing 15 Bulgarians, voiced suspicions of foul play.

Naumka Yoleska spoke late Saturday evening, in the tragedy's aftermath, in an exclusive interview for Darik radio.

Yoleska told the Darik reporter that she was considering the possibility that some of the ship owner's competitors could have been involved in "Ilinden's" "malfunction."

According to the tour guide, she often took Bulgarian groups around the lake and always on "Ilinden." Despite admitting that the passengers did not have life-jackets, Yoleska said the ship had been in good condition and this is why it was always the top choice of the tourists.

"There is no way the ship went in the lake with a malfunction. There are two versions - either something broke during the trip, either someone did something, because this ship makes the most tours. They are envious of him, jealous, always saying: "How do you find Bulgarians each week," Yoleska is quoted as saying.

The Macedonian tour guide recalled the harrowing experience and gave high praise to the crew of the ship "Alexandria", who came to the rescue two minutes after "Ilinden" sunk and to the other rescue boats arriving quickly. Rescuers also included lifeguards from the nearby "Metropol" hotel, beachgoers as well as ambulances and fire trucks arriving in just 7 to 8 minutes.

According to Yoleska, the group was in some way lucky because there were rescue teams in the water, not far from the incident's location, conducting training exercises.

Other Bulgarians, who were in Ohrid at the same time, told the Darik radio reporter, that by watching the events, they realized, for the first time in their life, that the Bulgarian State cared about its citizens; that they felt for once they really had a homeland - a feeling shared by many involved in or eye witnessing the incident.

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