Kosovo: NATO troops clash with ethnic Serb protesters, 25 soldiers injured

Around 25 of NATO-led peacekeepers were injured onMonday (May 29) as they clashed with ethnic Serb protesters in north Kosovo. The protesters were demanding removal of ethnic Albanian mayors who were elected in recent elections in northern Kosovo. Serbs in Kosovo had boycotted the elections which took place in northern Kosovan towns. This allowed ethnic Albanians to take control of local councils. The turnout for elections was a minuscule 3.5 per cent.

The Serbian president has put the army on highest level of combat alert.

Last week, Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti officially installed the mayors. He defied calls from the EU and the US to ease the tension. Both, the EU and the US had supported Kosovo's independence from Serbia in 2008.

Watch | Serbian army on combat alert

Earlier on Monday, groups of Serbs gathered in front of the municipal building in the Serb-majority town of Zvecan and tried to force their way into the building.

AFP reported that the police responded with tear gas and pushed the protesters back as they tried to enter the building.

Many Serbs are demanding withdrawal of Kosovo police forces. Presence of these forces in northern regions of Kosovo has for a long time caused resistance. Serbs do not consider ethnic Albanian mayors to be their true representatives.

Molotov cocktails hurled at NATO peacekeepers

NATO-led peacekeepers in the KFOR mission at first attempted to separate protesters from the police. But later they used their shields and batons to disperse the crowd.

Several protesters retaliatedby hurling rocks, bottles and Molotov cocktails at the soldiers, but were quickly repelled a few hundred meters away from the Zvecan municipal building.

"The protesters, using violence and throwing tear gas, tried to cross the security cordons and make a forced entry into the municipality facility," Kosovo police said in a statement as reported by AFP.

"Police were forced to use legal means, such as (pepper) spray, to stop the protesters and bring the situation under control."

KFOR condemned the violence.

"While countering the most active fringes of the crowd, several soldiers of the Italian and Hungarian KFOR contingent were the subject of unprovoked attacks and sustained trauma wounds with fractures and burns due to the explosion of incendiary devices," it said in a statement.

Kosovo blames Serbia

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani lashed out at Serbian President Aleksander Vucic and alleged that Serbia was trying to destabilise Kosovo.

"Serb illegal structures turned into criminal gangs have attacked Kosovo police, KFOR (peacekeeping) officers & journalists. Those who carry out Vucic's orders to destabilise the north of Kosovo, must face justice," Osmani tweeted.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia's allies Russia and China have refused recognition. This has prevented Kosovo from having a seat at United Nations.

Ethnic Serbs, especially those in the northern parts of Kosovo have remained largely loyal to Serbia. In this region, they make up the majority and oppose any move by Kosovo to strengthen its hold.

KFOR said it had bolstered its presence in northern Kosovo following the latest developments and urged Belgrade and Pristina to engage in an EU-led dialogue to reduce tensions.

"We call on all sides to refrain from actions that could inflame tensions or cause escalation," KFOR said in a statement.
Police had already used tear gas Friday to disperse Serbs in northern Kosovo who protested the installation of the mayors.

(With inputs from agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE