Ethnic Albanians Clash With Peacekeepers in Kosovo

Ethnic Albanians clashed with KFOR troops in the northern Kosovar town of Kosovska Mitrovica on Tuesday, and set fire to two KFOR vehicles, said Tanjug news agency.

A crowd of ethnic Albanians gathered in the so-called " confidence zone" in the town center to protest the killing of a 15- years-old Albanian in a grenade attack on Monday.

French KFOR troops launched tear gas and rubber bullets on the crowd when they were attempting to cross the bridge on the Ibar river that divides the Albanian and Serb sectors of the town.

Unofficial reports indicate that three French soldiers and a dozen ethnic Albanians were injured, two of the latter seriously, said Tanjug. That was no official confirmation.

The commander of KFOR's northern brigade has imposed a curfew in the "confidence zone" and at all eastern approaches to Kosovska Mitrovica to prevent rallies of ethnic Albanian demonstrators who are trying to raid the northern Serb sector and expel Serb residents.

The situation in Kosovska Mitrovica seems to be calming down Tuesday evening. Only sporadic shots could be heard in the southern Albanian sector of the town, said Tanjug.

Albanians and Serbs clashed on Monday in Kosovska Mitrovica. The 15-year-old youth was killed when the two groups exchanged grenade throwing. Another man died of wounds overnight.






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