Kosovo interior minister resigns

Kosovo interior minister resigns

Fatmir Rexhepi, Kosovo's first interior minister, said he felt a "moral responsibility" for the deaths.

"Because of these tragic events, I feel it would be a moral act to offer my resignation in the interests of the Kosovo citizens, the bereaved families, my parents, my family and the joint project for the Kosovo state," he told reporters.

Two Kosovo Albanian men aged 30 and 34 were confirmed dead on Sunday after the clashes, the worst since March 2004 when 19 people died in Albanian mob riots against Serbs.

A third man was in a coma. All were believed to have been hit by rubber bullets.

The violence underscored Western fears of widespread civil unrest if a decision on the Albanian majority's demand for independence does not come soon.

Western powers and Kosovo Albanian leaders have welcomed the plan, which provides for a powerful European overseer and broad self-government for the remaining 100,000 Serbs.

But some Kosovo Albanians say it does not go far enough in ending Kosovo's limbo status and will leave Serbia with a permanent foothold in the territory.

Ceku: Excessive force led to deaths

Earlier today, Kosovo PM Agim Ceku argued that the police use of excessive force may have caused loss of two lives during clashes in Priština Saturday.

Protests were staged to voice discontent that the UN special Envoy’s plan on the Kosovo status failed to envisage independence for the province. Kosovo representatives of the United States, Great Britain, Italy, France and Russia condemned the violence.

“There’s no room for violent action aimed at attaining political goals. Those who opt for violence and provocation bring harm to their own interests and reputation, and lead to the tragic results we have recently witnessed”, foreign diplomats said in a statement.

Police search Self-Determination premises

Kosovo Police Service (KPS) conducted searches of local Self-Determination offices in Priština, Kosovska Mitrovica, Gnjilane, Prizren and Peć.

Three persons who confronted the officers were arrested.

Glauk Konjufca, one of the movement’s leaders, confirmed that both searches and arrests took place, as well as that Albin Kurti remained in detention, while four activists were meanwhile convicted to 40 days in prison.

Konjufca believes the motive behind the police action was to interfere with the Self-Determination’s activities and ultimately shut down its offices.