More than 70 people were injured after clashes between NATO peacekeepers and the Serb population in three towns in the northern region of Kosovo. Of the total, at least 50 are Serbs who were protesting against the inauguration of mayors of Albanian origin in the region, while 25 police officers were hit.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said 52 Serbs were injured, three of them seriously.
KFOR, the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, condemned the violence. “While fighting the most active fringes of the crowd, several soldiers from the Italian and Hungarian KFOR contingent were the target of unprovoked attacks and suffered traumatic injuries with fractures and burns due to exploding incendiary devices,” he said in a statement.
Hungarian Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky said seven Hungarian soldiers were seriously injured and would be taken to Hungary for treatment.
“What is happening is absolutely unacceptable and irresponsible,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement. “It is vital to avoid further unilateral actions by the Kosovo authorities and that all parties concerned immediately step back to ease tensions.”
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has accused her Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic, of destabilizing Kosovo. “Illegal Serb structures turned into criminal gangs attacked Kosovo police, KFOR (peacekeeping) officers and journalists. Those carrying out Vucic’s orders to destabilize northern Kosovo must face justice,” tweeted Osmani.
Vucic accused Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti of creating tensions. He urged Serbs to avoid clashes with NATO troops.
The tense situation developed after ethnic Albanian mayors took office in Serb-majority northern Kosovo following elections boycotted by Serbs – a move that prompted the United States and its allies to rebuke Pristina on Friday.
In Zvecan, one of the region’s towns, Kosovo police — made up of ethnic Albanians after Serbs left the force last year — sprayed pepper spray to repel a mob of Serbs who broke through a security barricade and tried to force entry. at the council building, witnesses said.
Serbian demonstrators in Zvecan threw tear gas and stun grenades at NATO soldiers. Serbs also clashed with police in Zvecan and painted NATO vehicles with the letter “Z”, referring to the Russian sign used in the war in Ukraine.
In Leposavic, close to the Serbian border, US peacekeepers in riot gear set up barbed wire around town hall to protect it from hundreds of angry Serbs.
Source: CNN Brasil
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