Global Courant
Belgrade Serbia
Kosovo police units withdrew from northern Serbian municipalities on Tuesday.
Tensions resurfaced after the arrest of one of the organizers of the 29 May attack on NATO’s peacekeeping force (KFOR), which was stationed amid the unrest over the Serbs’ appointment of ethnic Albanian mayors to their district.
Serbs gathered in northern Mitrovica tried to prevent the Kosovo police from carrying out an operation, and three police officers were slightly injured in the clash that ensued.
KFOR soldiers demanded the withdrawal of Kosovo police units on Tuesday.
After the request, the troops withdrew to the direction of the Bosnian district with their armored vehicles.
“Kosovo police detained Milun Milenkovic-Llune, one of the leaders of the criminal organization ‘Civil Defense’ and the leader of criminal gangs who have been terrorizing our citizens for years, attacking members of the Kosovo police and institutions of the Republic.” said Kosovo Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla.
Svecla added that Milenkovic-Llune was among the main organizers of the attacks against KFOR forces and Kosovo police in Zvecan.
Kosovo police do not allow vehicles to pass through the Bosnian quarter at the entrance of Northern Mitrovica.
Police also advised journalists not to go to Northern Mitrovica as they could not guarantee their safety.
Tensions rose in Kosovo after ethnic Albanian mayors were elected last month in four Serb-dominated municipalities in the north of the country.
Ethnic Serbs have been protesting the election of mayors since the end of May.
At least 30 KFOR soldiers were injured in clashes with Serbs who were protesting and trying to prevent the newly elected mayor of the municipality of Zvecan from entering the city hall on 29 May to take the oath and take up official duties.
According to hospital sources, more than 53 civilians were also injured by stun grenades and tear gas.
Kosovo police said at least five people were detained following the clashes.
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