UNMIK out, Serbs released; over 100 injured

Kosovska Mitrovica was in turmoil this morning after UNMIK and KFOR stormed a local court to arrest Serbs. Beta news agency says that several hundred soldiers at 05:30 CET surrounded the court, where Serb judicial workers, demanding to return to their jobs, were protesting since Friday. UNMIK out, Serbs released; over 100 injured They first handcuffed the men, and then tied the women's hands with ropes. The workers were not resisting the arrest. When the troops moved outside to take them away, a large group of citizens blocked the road. The citizens, local Serbs in the divided town, then started throwing stones at UNMIK. Soldiers responded by throwing back tear gas and shock bombs. The protesting crowd managed to stop two vehicles and set the Serbs inside free. Both men and women, 21 in all, were among those in this way released from UNMIK custody. Officials in Pristina said early this morning that "53 Serbs were arrested without any use of force, but that protests are ongoing". The 32 Serbs detained this morning have in the meantime been released and will return to the north. During the morning, rioting spread to other parts of the town, where chaos was seen on the streets at 07:00. Bombs were thrown and vehicles, including KFOR and UNMIK, were set on fire. Sirens were also heard. B92's sources say that up to 35 international soldiers and policemen have been injured, five of them seriously. Three Serbs are also in serious condition, one of them having sustained life-threatening gunshot wounds. He has been identified as Nebojsa Vukomanovic. Doctors in Kragujevac, where he has been transferred, are figthing for his life. Further 70 Serbs have also been treated, 15 of them for serious injuries that Hospital officials say most of the wounds were inflicted by firearms. Serbian officials have said that UNMIK fired at protesters from sniper rifles, but this has been denied by the UN in the province. After UNMIK and Kosovo police, KPS, were ordered out of the Serb part of the town, the situation calmed down. KFOR is now patrolling the streets, and according to our sources, has received orders to "shoot to restore order". It is unclear if a state of emergency has officially been declared. Serbs are in the meantime gathering at the city square where Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic is expected to address them. UNMIK spokesman Alexandar Ivanko also confirmed that UNMIK police had withdrawn from northern Kosovska Mitrovica, while KFOR will remain. He told CNN that the situation in town is "very serious". "We hope the situation will be resolved in a few hours.. we ask for peace to prevail." He added that UNMIK has spoken to Samardzic this morning, "pleading with him to use his influence to calm the situation". Earlier, leader of the Serb National Council for Northern Kosovo Milan Ivanovic said that UNMIK and KFOR used excessive force, sparking the reaction in the streets. Polish and Ukrainian soldiers have reportedly been sent inside the court building, while the French were left outside to guard the perimeter. "The employees have peacefully accepted to be arrested and transported to Pristina," Ivanovic says, "but several hundred citizens, now more than a thousand, blocked KFOR's way. UNMIK then used excessive force, throwing tear gas so that now there's lots of tear gas, but people are not dispersing." According to him, the raid came at UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker's orders, who got his orders from Hashim Thaci and Fatmir Sejdiu. "It really is curious that the head of UNMIK gets orders from temporary illegal Kosovo institutions, from an illegal, self-proclaimed, mafia quasi-state," Ivanovic concluded. Several hundred KFOR troops are currently on the streets. Armored vehicles and five tanks have cordoned off the court building. Drones and helicopters were also used in the raid, when UN and NATO troops removed the Serbian flag from the building. A scene from Kosovska Mitrovica this morning (Tanjug)

UNMIK out, Serbs released; over 100 injured

They first handcuffed the men, and then tied the women's hands with ropes. The workers were not resisting the arrest. When the troops moved outside to take them away, a large group of citizens blocked the road.

The citizens, local Serbs in the divided town, then started throwing stones at UNMIK. Soldiers responded by throwing back tear gas and shock bombs.

The protesting crowd managed to stop two vehicles and set the Serbs inside free. Both men and women, 21 in all, were among those in this way released from UNMIK custody.

Officials in Priština said early this morning that "53 Serbs were arrested without any use of force, but that protests are ongoing".

The 32 Serbs detained this morning have in the meantime been released and will return to the north.

During the morning, rioting spread to other parts of the town, where chaos was seen on the streets at 07:00. Bombs were thrown and vehicles, including KFOR and UNMIK, were set on fire. Sirens were also heard.

B92's sources say that up to 35 international soldiers and policemen have been injured, five of them seriously.

Three Serbs are also in serious condition, one of them having sustained life-threatening gunshot wounds. He has been identified as Nebojša Vukomanović. Doctors in Kragujevac, where he has been transferred, are figthing for his life.

Further 70 Serbs have also been treated, 15 of them for serious injuries that Hospital officials say most of the wounds were inflicted by firearms.

Serbian officials have said that UNMIK fired at protesters from sniper rifles, but this has been denied by the UN in the province.

After UNMIK and Kosovo police, KPS, were ordered out of the Serb part of the town, the situation calmed down.

KFOR is now patrolling the streets, and according to our sources, has received orders to "shoot to restore order". It is unclear if a state of emergency has officially been declared. Serbs are in the meantime gathering at the city square where Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardžić is expected to address them.

UNMIK spokesman Alexandar Ivanko also confirmed that UNMIK police had withdrawn from northern Kosovska Mitrovica, while KFOR will remain.

He told CNN that the situation in town is "very serious".

"We hope the situation will be resolved in a few hours.. we ask for peace to prevail."

He added that UNMIK has spoken to Samardžić this morning, "pleading with him to use his influence to calm the situation".

Earlier, leader of the Serb National Council for Northern Kosovo Milan Ivanović said that UNMIK and KFOR used excessive force, sparking the reaction in the streets.

Polish and Ukrainian soldiers have reportedly been sent inside the court building, while the French were left outside to guard the perimeter.

"The employees have peacefully accepted to be arrested and transported to Priština," Ivanović says, "but several hundred citizens, now more than a thousand, blocked KFOR's way. UNMIK then used excessive force, throwing tear gas so that now there's lots of tear gas, but people are not dispersing."

According to him, the raid came at UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker's orders, who got his orders from Hashim Thaci and Fatmir Sejdiu.

"It really is curious that the head of UNMIK gets orders from temporary illegal Kosovo institutions, from an illegal, self-proclaimed, mafia quasi-state," Ivanović concluded.

Several hundred KFOR troops are currently on the streets. Armored vehicles and five tanks have cordoned off the court building.

Drones and helicopters were also used in the raid, when UN and NATO troops removed the Serbian flag from the building.