Kosovo’s parliament descended into chaos after an opposition lawmaker threw eggs at acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti during a tense parliamentary session. The incident took place as lawmakers debated the formation of a new government following Kosovo’s June snap election.

The opposition MP reportedly shouted “Shame” while throwing eggs toward Kurti, prompting lawmakers from Kurti’s Vetevendosje party and police officers to intervene.

Kurti’s party won the election but does not have enough seats to form a government on its own. Negotiations with other parties remain crucial as Kosovo faces a prolonged political deadlock and the possibility of another election.


Kosovo Parliament chaos: Oppn MP throws eggs at acting PM Albin Kurti amid political deadlock

A blast on Friday (Nov 29) evening damaged a canal supplying water to Kosovo's two main coal-fired power plants, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said. Addressing a press conference, Prime Minister Kurti said, "This is a criminal and terrorist attack aimed at damaging our critical infrastructure.

A blast on Friday (Nov 29) evening damaged a canal supplying water to Kosovo's two main coal-fired power plants, Prime Minister Albin Kurti said. Addressing a press conference, Prime Minister Kurti said, "This is a criminal and terrorist attack aimed at damaging our critical infrastructure." "The attack was carried out by professionals. We believe it comes from gangs directed by Serbia," he added. A report by the news agency AFP said that the blast, which hit a canal supplying water to cooling systems at two power plants that supply most of Kosovo's electricity, occurred near the town of Zubin Potok in the country's troubled north. No injuries reported No injuries were reported in the explosion and the cause of the blast was not yet known. PM Kurti said that if the damage was not repaired, part of Kosovo could be without electricity. The canal runs from the Serb-majority north of Kosovo to the capital Pristina and also supplies drinking water. A report by the news agency Reuters said that the explosion impacted the supplies of drinking water. 'Water supply must be halted to fix problem' Faruk Mujka, the head of the water company Ibar-Lepenci, told local media that an explosive device was thrown into the canal and damaged the wall of a bridge. He said the water supply, which also feeds drinking water to the capital Pristina, must be halted to fix the problem as soon as possible since it was the main channel for supplying Kosovo Energy Corporation (KEK), the country's main power provider. Reuters reported that earlier on Friday, the Kosovo police announced increased security measures after two recent attacks where hand grenades were hurled at a police station and municipality building in northern Kosovo where ethnic Serbians live. It was not clear if the incidents were linked. Serbia condemns canal explosion Serbia on Saturday strongly condemned the blast in Kosovo and rejected Pristina's claim that it (Serbia was behind the attack). "Such destructive actions are unacceptable and threaten the fragile stability we are striving to maintain," Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric said, calling Pristina's allegation of Serbian involvement "baseless" and a "deliberate diversion." (With inputs from agencies)

Blast damages canal feeding Kosovo's main power plants, PM calls explosion 'terrorist attack'

The standoff between gunmen and Kosovo authorities at a monastery near the Serbian border ended on Sunday night (September 24), the interior minister in Pristina said, after police regained control of the area.&nbsp;

"We put this territory under control. It was done after several consecutive battles," Xhelal Svecla, the Minister of Internal Affairs, told reporters.

Kosovo police had released a statement saying that an officer and three gunmen had lost their lives in a shooting around the village of Banjska in the country's north on Sunday (September 24) after Pristina said around 30 attackers stormed the village.

Earlier, Prime Minister Albin Kurti released a statement saying that at least 30 gunmen were surrounded by authorities in north Kosovo and called for their surrender.

"There are at least 30 professional, military or police armed people who are surrounded by our police forces and whom I invite to surrender to our security agencies," said Kurti during a press conference.

He further added that the group was located in and around a monastery near the village of Banjska, where the patrol had been ambushed early on Sunday (September 24).

Kurti took to social media and said, "At this moment, gunfire with various calibre firearms against our police is still ongoing."

"The attackers are professionals wearing masks and heavily armed," he further wrote describing the incident.

The Serbia Orthodox Church released a statement confirming that the gunmen had stormed a monastery in Banjska&nbsp;where pilgrims from the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad were staying.&nbsp;

Kosovo police released a statement early on Sunday saying that two heavy vehicles without license plates were placed on a bridge in the village of Banjska, blockading the entrance and firing at the police units that arrived "with an arsenal of firearms, including hand grenades and arm launchers".

"We can see armed people in uniforms... they are firing on us and we are firing back," Kosovo police official Veton Elshan told news agency AFP telephonically from Banjska.

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PM Kurti's comments came hours after he called the ambush an act of terrorism and condemned the Serbian government for it.&nbsp;

"Organised crime with political, financial and logistical support from officials in Belgrade is attacking our country," he wrote on social media.

Later, Serbian state media outlet RTS reported that Jarinje and Brnjak border crossings between Serbia and Kosovo were shut down.

<h2>Talks with Serbia have reached dead end, says Kurti</h2>

Talks between Kosovo and Serbia, that were brokered by the European Union, have reached a dead end, said Kurti as per The Guardian.

Kurti, in a conversation with the outlet, defined the latest unsuccessful meeting between him and the Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić, which took place on September 14, as a fiasco and said that the EU special envoy, Miroslav Lajčák, had “lost neutrality”.

“There is no moving further with this method,” Kurti said. “The 14 September [meeting] showed the limits of old methods.”

“He offends and curses in Serbian quite often throughout these two years,” Kurti said. “I asked the mediators to stop him and to condemn it but that never happens.”

<h2>EU condemns 'hideous attack'</h2>

The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell fiercely condemned the "hideous attack" on Kosovo police that claimed the life of one officer.

"I condemn in the strongest possible terms the hideous attack by an armed gang against Kosovo police officers in Banjska/Banjske in the north of Kosovo, which left one police officer dead and two injured," he said in a statement, calling for the violence to cease.

"All facts about the attack need to be established. The responsible perpetrators must face justice," he said.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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The standoff between gunmen and Kosovo authorities at a monastery near the Serbian border ended on Sunday night (September 24), the interior minister in Pristina said, after police regained control of the area.

The standoff between gunmen and Kosovo authorities at a monastery near the Serbian border ended on Sunday night (September 24), the interior minister in Pristina said, after police regained control of the area. "We put this territory under control. It was done after several consecutive battles," Xhelal Svecla, the Minister of Internal Affairs, told reporters. Kosovo police had released a statement saying that an officer and three gunmen had lost their lives in a shooting around the village of Banjska in the country's north on Sunday (September 24) after Pristina said around 30 attackers stormed the village. Earlier, Prime Minister Albin Kurti released a statement saying that at least 30 gunmen were surrounded by authorities in north Kosovo and called for their surrender. "There are at least 30 professional, military or police armed people who are surrounded by our police forces and whom I invite to surrender to our security agencies," said Kurti during a press conference. He further added that the group was located in and around a monastery near the village of Banjska, where the patrol had been ambushed early on Sunday (September 24). Kurti took to social media and said, "At this moment, gunfire with various calibre firearms against our police is still ongoing." "The attackers are professionals wearing masks and heavily armed," he further wrote describing the incident. The Serbia Orthodox Church released a statement confirming that the gunmen had stormed a monastery in Banjska where pilgrims from the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad were staying. Kosovo police released a statement early on Sunday saying that two heavy vehicles without license plates were placed on a bridge in the village of Banjska, blockading the entrance and firing at the police units that arrived "with an arsenal of firearms, including hand grenades and arm launchers". "We can see armed people in uniforms... they are firing on us and we are firing back," Kosovo police official Veton Elshan told news agency AFP telephonically from Banjska. Also read: Philippines accuses China of installing 'floating barrier' in South China Sea PM Kurti's comments came hours after he called the ambush an act of terrorism and condemned the Serbian government for it. "Organised crime with political, financial and logistical support from officials in Belgrade is attacking our country," he wrote on social media. Later, Serbian state media outlet RTS reported that Jarinje and Brnjak border crossings between Serbia and Kosovo were shut down. Talks with Serbia have reached dead end, says Kurti Talks between Kosovo and Serbia, that were brokered by the European Union, have reached a dead end, said Kurti as per The Guardian. Kurti, in a conversation with the outlet, defined the latest unsuccessful meeting between him and the Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić, which took place on September 14, as a fiasco and said that the EU special envoy, Miroslav Lajčák, had “lost neutrality”. “There is no moving further with this method,” Kurti said. “The 14 September [meeting] showed the limits of old methods.” “He offends and curses in Serbian quite often throughout these two years,” Kurti said. “I asked the mediators to stop him and to condemn it but that never happens.” EU condemns 'hideous attack' The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell fiercely condemned the "hideous attack" on Kosovo police that claimed the life of one officer. "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the hideous attack by an armed gang against Kosovo police officers in Banjska/Banjske in the north of Kosovo, which left one police officer dead and two injured," he said in a statement, calling for the violence to cease. "All facts about the attack need to be established. The responsible perpetrators must face justice," he said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Standoff between gunmen and Kosovo authorities at monastery ends

On Thursday, an Opposition legislator splashed water on Prime Minister Albin Kurti when he was speaking about government initiatives to ease tensions with ethnic Serbs in the country's north.

Brawl in Kosovo's Parliament: Opposition MP sprays water on PM & Deputy PM | World News | WION

The United States and European Union on Wednesday (June 7) told Kosovo to back down amid its standoff with ethnic Serbs or face "consequences". The tension with ethnic Serbs has flared up in northern parts of Kosovo.

The warning came as envoys of US and the EU concluded visits to Kosovo and Serbia. The envoys had visited to calm tensions that flared into violence last week. The clashes also wounded dozens of NATO peace-keeping soldiers.

The violence started when Kosovo authorities installed ethnic Albanian mayors who were elected to their offices in elections that saw less than five per cent of voters come out to vote. The election was boycotted by ethnic Serbs who are in majority in northern Kosovan cities. Ethnic Serbs did not consider the mayors to be their representatives.

Gabriel Escobar, the US envoy to the Western Balkans, said that Kosovo must give more autonomy to Serb-majority municipalities if it wants to go in the direction of joining the EU and NATO.

"The actions taken or not taken could have some consequences that will affect parts of the relationship (between Kosovo and the United States), I don't want to get there," Escobar told Kosovo media on Tuesday before going to Belgrade.

Escobar, along with EU's Miroslav Lajcak did not reveal details of what will these consequences be or what's in store for Kosovo PM Albin Kurti's ethnic Albanian-dominated government.

"I don't think that these things are resolved with pressure and by mentioning consequences and even sanctions," Kurti told reporters on Wednesday.

"We have challenges with EU and U.S. envoys but our bilateral relations with the EU and U.S. are excellent."

Lajcak said on Monday that the envoys presented proposals to Kurti to de-escalate the situation in northern Kosovo, adding they had a "long, honest, difficult discussion".

<h2>Fresh elections?</h2>

The EU and the US have called on Kosovan PM to recall mayors from their offices and also to pull out special police unit that helped to install them. They have also stressed on calling fresh elections with Serb participation. The US and the EU have also appealed Kosovo to implement an agreement struck in 2013 that paved way for formation of association of Serb municipalities so that the community can get more autonomy.

Kosovo broke away from Serbia in 2008. Western countries like the US have been staunch&nbsp;backers of Kosovo's independence. Kosovo does not have recognition from all countries in the world. It does not till now, have a seat at the United Nations.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The United States and European Union on Wednesday (June 7) told Kosovo to back down amid its standoff with ethnic Serbs or face "consequences". The tension with ethnic Serbs has flared up in northern parts of Kosovo.

The United States and European Union on Wednesday (June 7) told Kosovo to back down amid its standoff with ethnic Serbs or face "consequences". The tension with ethnic Serbs has flared up in northern parts of Kosovo. The warning came as envoys of US and the EU concluded visits to Kosovo and Serbia. The envoys had visited to calm tensions that flared into violence last week. The clashes also wounded dozens of NATO peace-keeping soldiers. The violence started when Kosovo authorities installed ethnic Albanian mayors who were elected to their offices in elections that saw less than five per cent of voters come out to vote. The election was boycotted by ethnic Serbs who are in majority in northern Kosovan cities. Ethnic Serbs did not consider the mayors to be their representatives. Gabriel Escobar, the US envoy to the Western Balkans, said that Kosovo must give more autonomy to Serb-majority municipalities if it wants to go in the direction of joining the EU and NATO. "The actions taken or not taken could have some consequences that will affect parts of the relationship (between Kosovo and the United States), I don't want to get there," Escobar told Kosovo media on Tuesday before going to Belgrade. Escobar, along with EU's Miroslav Lajcak did not reveal details of what will these consequences be or what's in store for Kosovo PM Albin Kurti's ethnic Albanian-dominated government. "I don't think that these things are resolved with pressure and by mentioning consequences and even sanctions," Kurti told reporters on Wednesday. "We have challenges with EU and U.S. envoys but our bilateral relations with the EU and U.S. are excellent." Lajcak said on Monday that the envoys presented proposals to Kurti to de-escalate the situation in northern Kosovo, adding they had a "long, honest, difficult discussion". Fresh elections? The EU and the US have called on Kosovan PM to recall mayors from their offices and also to pull out special police unit that helped to install them. They have also stressed on calling fresh elections with Serb participation. The US and the EU have also appealed Kosovo to implement an agreement struck in 2013 that paved way for formation of association of Serb municipalities so that the community can get more autonomy. Kosovo broke away from Serbia in 2008. Western countries like the US have been staunch backers of Kosovo's independence. Kosovo does not have recognition from all countries in the world. It does not till now, have a seat at the United Nations. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Back down or face 'consequences', US and EU tell Kosovo authorities

Former Kosovo prime minister Albin Kurti's anti establishment party is now all set to win election with a landslide victory. Exist poll gives victory to left wing party.

Albin Kurti coalition scores largest margin of support

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Kosovo Parliament chaos: Oppn MP throws eggs at acting PM Albin Kurti amid political deadlock

Blast damages canal feeding Kosovo's main power plants, PM calls explosion 'terrorist attack'

Standoff between gunmen and Kosovo authorities at monastery ends

Brawl in Kosovo's Parliament: Opposition MP sprays water on PM & Deputy PM | World News | WION

Back down or face 'consequences', US and EU tell Kosovo authorities

Albin Kurti coalition scores largest margin of support