2023-05-29 18:28:43
Kosovo
Protection force KFOR violently breaks up Serbian protests in the north
The NATO-led security force KFOR violently broke up a protest by militant Serbs against new mayors in northern Kosovo.
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On Monday morning, around 300 KFOR soldiers in combat gear took up positions in front of the municipal office in Zvecan.
REUTERS
At the same time, a large number of Serbian demonstrators had gathered in front of the official building.
REUTERS
The escalation came on Monday when the Serbian crowd in Zvecan refused to let the Kosovar police vehicles that were still there drive away.
REUTERS
The KFOR squad then broke up the meeting.
REUTERS
The soldiers used stun grenades and tear gas in front of the municipal office in the village of Zvecan.
REUTERS
The crowd, in turn, threw stones, bottles and other objects at them, local media reported.
REUTERS
Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic criticized the international handling of the events in Kosovo. KFOR does not protect the people, but those who have seized power.
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Violent confrontations have broken out again between Serbian demonstrators and the police in northern Kosovo.
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The protesters attempted to take control of a local government building.
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The soldiers used stun grenades and tear gas.
Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo met on Monday Clashes with KFOR troops delivered. They attempted to take control of a local government building. Previously it was already to clashes with the Kosovar police came. Police said Serbs gathered in the municipalities of Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok in the morning. In Zvecan they tried to force their way in with tear gas. The police responded with tear gas.
Numerous soldiers of the NATO-led Kosovo Protection Force KFOR were injured in the clashes. Several uniformed men from Italy and Hungary suffered fractures and burns in the village of Zvecan, the KFOR command announced in Pristina on Monday evening. The Italian Ministry of Defense spoke in a statement of 14 injured Italians from the KFOR contingent. 20 Hungarian KFOR soldiers were also among the injured, wrote the Budapest news portal hvg.hu, citing diplomatic circles.
Tear gas and stun grenades
In the afternoon, KFOR troopers called on the Serbs to clear the way for two Kosovar special police vehicles. The soldiers then used tear gas and stun grenades to protect the officers in the vehicles and to disperse the protesters, eyewitnesses and local media said. The ethnic Serbs then threw stones and other objects. A vehicle caught fire. No information was initially available on possible injuries.
Early municipal elections were held in the four municipalities in April, most of which were boycotted by ethnic Serbs. Only ethnic Albanians or representatives of a smaller minority were elected. Ethnic Serbs form a majority in northern Kosovo.
Newly elected members should not enter buildings
Members of this majority tried last week to prevent newly elected officials from entering City Hall buildings. The police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. More than a dozen ethnic Serbs and five members of the Kosovar police were injured in clashes on Friday. The USA and the EU accused the Kosovan government of having gained access to the buildings with the help of the police.
According to one of their politicians from northern Kosovo, Serbs are demanding the resignation of the new mayors, who are “illegal and unlawful sheriffs”. In addition, the special police should leave the area, said local politician Goran Rakic. The demands were passed on to the NATO-led Kosovo force KFOR and foreign embassies.
KFOR calls for peace dialogue
Police and KFOR protected city government buildings in the four municipalities on Monday. KFOR said its on-site presence has been increased to ensure a safe environment. The force called on the parties to the conflict not to cause an escalation. The governments of Kosovo and Serbia should engage in an EU-led dialogue to work towards peace, it said.
Kosovo and Serbia have long been enemies. Kosovo declared its independence in 2008. The Serbian government does not recognize this. The Serbian military was put on increased alert on the border with Kosovo on Friday.
Criticism from Serbian Prime Minister
Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic criticized the international handling of the events in Kosovo. KFOR does not protect the people, but those who have seized power – apparently an allusion to the new mayors. “But we must protect the peace,” she said.
Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said the military would be ready “to fulfill any task and any order”. He hopes for a political solution. He accused KFOR of “protecting the police from unarmed people”.
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(DPA/bre)
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