25 NATO soldiers injured in clashes in northern Kosovo

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - At least 25 soldiers of the NATO-led international peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR) were injured on Monday in clashes with protesting Serbs.

"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," said a statement from KFOR.

NATO's forces added that the injured personnel are currently under observation at a health facility.

Tensions have gripped Kosovo with protesters and security forces clashing in the country's northern Serb-dominated municipalities over the election of ethnic Albanian mayors.

Among the injured soldiers were 11 Italians, news outlet ANSA reported citing official sources.

Three Italian nationals are said to be in a "serious but not life-threatening condition," Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the attack on the NATO mission, calling it "absolutely unacceptable and irresponsible."

"We will not tolerate further attacks on KFOR. It is essential to avoid further unilateral actions by the Kosovar authorities and that all parties involved immediately take a step back, contributing to the easing of tensions. The Italian Government's commitment to peace and stability in the Western Balkans is maximum and we will continue to work with our allies," she said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, more than 53 civilians suffered injuries from shock bombs and tear gas, hospital sources said.

One person underwent surgery and is in intensive care, said Zlatan Elek, director of the Clinical Hospital Center in Mitrovica, a Serb-dominated municipality which was the scene of clashes.

- US, Germany condemn 'attacks'

Germany and the U.S condemned the incidents of violence in the region.

"We condemn in the strongest terms the unacceptable violent attacks in the north of Kosovo this afternoon, causing dozens of KFOR/NATO soldiers and several civilians to be injured. Our thoughts are with the injured, whom we wish a speedy recovery," the German Foreign Ministry said in a statement calling for "an immediate halt to all violence."

The U.S ambassador to Kosovo Jeff Hovenier also condemned the violence.

"The U.S. strongly condemns the violent actions of protesters in Zvecan today, including the use of explosives, against NATO's forces. Troops seeking to keep the peace. We reiterate our call for an immediate halt to violence or actions that inflame tensions or promote conflict," Hovenier said in a tweet.

- Mayor elections

Since Monday morning, Serb protesters have gathered outside the Serb-dominated Zvecan municipality in northern Kosovo to bar newly elected Albanian mayors from entering three municipal buildings.

The protesters attempted to breach the police cordon in front of the town hall, the police said in a statement, adding that they used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

KFOR units also used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the protesters, who did not retreat and responded with stones and sticks.

Last month, Kosovo Serbs boycotted extraordinary local government elections for four municipalities in the country's north. Only 3.47% of eligible voters cast ballots, according to the Kosovo Central Election Commission (KQZ).

After the elections, the EU said in a statement that low turnout did not provide municipalities with long-term political solutions.

As tensions heightened in the region, Serbia ordered its army to advance to the border with Kosovo and urged NATO to “stop the violence against local Serbs in Kosovo.”

Kosovo Serbs on Saturday called on Vucic to suspend the ongoing dialogue process for normalizing relations with Kosovo, whose 2008 independence neighboring Serbia has never recognized.

The EU requires Kosovo and Serbia to reach a final agreement and resolve disputes to progress in their integration into the bloc.