Kosovo police detain at least 5 local Serbs during clashes in north

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Police in Kosovo announced Monday that at least five people were detained during clashes between security forces and protesting Serbs in its northern municipalities.

''As a result of the unbridled violence, several members of the NATO-led international peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR) were hurt and five suspects who used attacks and violence against them have been arrested so far,'' said a police statement.

At least 25 KFOR soldiers were injured Monday in clashes with protesting Serbs.

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, the Italian news outlet ANSA reported, citing official sources.

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

- Mayoral 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 a police cordon in front of the town hall, the police said in a statement, adding 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.

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 European Union said in a statement that the 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 Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to suspend the ongoing dialogue process for normalizing relations with Kosovo, whose 2008 independence from neighboring Serbia has never been recognized.

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