High ranking UN officials want answers from UNMIK

Monday's deadly unrest in northern Kosovo is causing waves all the way to the East River, Tanjug says. High ranking UN officials have asked "serious questions about the purpose of the operation undertaken by KFOR and UNMIK in Kosovska Mitrovica, above all since the raid on the court there resulted in the death of one Ukrainian soldier and grave wounding of a Serb protester," UN sources in New York told the news agency today. High ranking UN officials want answers from UNMIK Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has "made note" of Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic's letter sent today, and is condsidering this issue, his spokesman Brendon Varma said officially. According to him, "UNMIK and KFOR were forced to use force, in response to attacks against them, which is an unfortunate circumstance." "However, it is completely unacceptable that deadly weapons were used against our staff," he was also quoted. But Tanjug's unnamed sources said that one of the central questions, that the UN chiefs have asked UNMIK, is to explain the circumstances under which Kosovo Serb Nikola Vukomanovic was seriously wounded, with a bullet to his head. Vukomanovic remains in a coma for the third day. "Who fired the shot that injured that man?", the diplomats said, and added they expect an answer to this question. At the same time, the UN will seek a review of the chain if command, in other words, who the international officers got their direct orders from to storm the court building. The decision turned out to be the spark that set off a chain of events that killed one, and injured more than 150 people. UN officials in New York say that this controversial order was given by UNMIK deputy chief Larry Rossin, who for his part deflected the responsibility to the headquarters of the world organization, saying that "UNMIK has an order from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to make executive decisions in the territory of Kosovo." The investigation, a usual step for the UN, especially when there are fatalities, will also look into allegations that banned rubber bullets were used against the demonstrating Serbs in Kosovska Mitrovica. The UN decided to ban the ammunition last summer, after UNMIK police killed two ethnic Albanian demonstrators using rubber bullets. The UN headquarters expect a precise answer to the question who was directly responsible for the death of the Ukrainian policeman, and injuries of 40 others, as well as a report about the circumstances in which the violence flared up, and scores of civilians were injured. Increased KFOR presence in the town (FoNet) UNMIK launching investigation into riots UNMIK spokesman Alexander Ivanko says UNMIK has opened an inquiry into Monday’s clashes in Kosovska Mitrovica. Ivanko added that UNMIK police would make a partial return to the town. “We have launched several criminal investigations relating in particular to the cases of murder and attempted murder,” said the spokesman, adding that the investigation had only just started, and that investigators would have to gather evidence. He underlined that UNMIK planned to bring to justice those who killed a UN police officer and attempted to kill several of his colleagues. Ivanko added that the 41 injured UN policemen were in a stable condition. “Regular UN police will return to northern Kosovska Mitrovica today, at least that is the plan,” said Ivanko. The police commissioner made the decision based on the situation on the ground, which had calmed significantly since Monday,” said the UNMIK spokesman. KFOR soldiers have been in charge of security in northern Kosovska Mitrovica since Monday, while since Tuesday, 84 Kosovo Police Service (KPS) members from northern Kosovska Mitrovica had been relieved of their “daily duties in the town.” Yesterday, KFOR assumed control of the premises of the police station in the north, and will remain there until further notice. Ivanko today again accused Serbian MUP officers of being inside the courthouse Monday. "We will give evidence about this to the investigators," he told a news conference in Pristina, but without giving any further details. Serbian officials have rejected these accusations, also heard yesterday, as false.

High ranking UN officials want answers from UNMIK

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has "made note" of Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić's letter sent today, and is condsidering this issue, his spokesman Brendon Varma said officially.

According to him, "UNMIK and KFOR were forced to use force, in response to attacks against them, which is an unfortunate circumstance."

"However, it is completely unacceptable that deadly weapons were used against our staff," he was also quoted.

But Tanjug's unnamed sources said that one of the central questions, that the UN chiefs have asked UNMIK, is to explain the circumstances under which Kosovo Serb Nikola Vukomanović was seriously wounded, with a bullet to his head. Vukomanović remains in a coma for the third day.

"Who fired the shot that injured that man?", the diplomats said, and added they expect an answer to this question.

At the same time, the UN will seek a review of the chain if command, in other words, who the international officers got their direct orders from to storm the court building. The decision turned out to be the spark that set off a chain of events that killed one, and injured more than 150 people.

UN officials in New York say that this controversial order was given by UNMIK deputy chief Larry Rossin, who for his part deflected the responsibility to the headquarters of the world organization, saying that "UNMIK has an order from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to make executive decisions in the territory of Kosovo."

The investigation, a usual step for the UN, especially when there are fatalities, will also look into allegations that banned rubber bullets were used against the demonstrating Serbs in Kosovska Mitrovica.

The UN decided to ban the ammunition last summer, after UNMIK police killed two ethnic Albanian demonstrators using rubber bullets.

The UN headquarters expect a precise answer to the question who was directly responsible for the death of the Ukrainian policeman, and injuries of 40 others, as well as a report about the circumstances in which the violence flared up, and scores of civilians were injured.

UNMIK launching investigation into riots

UNMIK spokesman Alexander Ivanko says UNMIK has opened an inquiry into Monday’s clashes in Kosovska Mitrovica.

Ivanko added that UNMIK police would make a partial return to the town.

“We have launched several criminal investigations relating in particular to the cases of murder and attempted murder,” said the spokesman, adding that the investigation had only just started, and that investigators would have to gather evidence.

He underlined that UNMIK planned to bring to justice those who killed a UN police officer and attempted to kill several of his colleagues.

Ivanko added that the 41 injured UN policemen were in a stable condition.

“Regular UN police will return to northern Kosovska Mitrovica today, at least that is the plan,” said Ivanko. The police commissioner made the decision based on the situation on the ground, which had calmed significantly since Monday,” said the UNMIK spokesman.

KFOR soldiers have been in charge of security in northern Kosovska Mitrovica since Monday, while since Tuesday, 84 Kosovo Police Service (KPS) members from northern Kosovska Mitrovica had been relieved of their “daily duties in the town.”

Yesterday, KFOR assumed control of the premises of the police station in the north, and will remain there until further notice.

Ivanko today again accused Serbian MUP officers of being inside the courthouse Monday.

"We will give evidence about this to the investigators," he told a news conference in Priština, but without giving any further details.

Serbian officials have rejected these accusations, also heard yesterday, as false.