Shots fired, police use tear gas in K. Mitrovica

EULEX police have used tear gas to prevent a clash of Serbs from the Brdjani neighborhood with Albanians this Saturday. Albanians have started reconstruction works on their houses in this area of northern Kosovo. Shots fired, police use tear gas in K. Mitrovica Automatic rifle fire was heard around noon today, but it remained unclear who fired the shots. There were no casualties, while the Serbs announced they would continue with protests until the renovation of homes in this part of the divided town of Kosovska Mitrovica has been halted. All this comes on the second day of tensions in the area. Serb representative Nebojsa Minic told UNMIK, KFOR and EULEX officials in a meeting that they would not allow Albanians to return to this part of the town without a previous agreement with the Serbs. "This project must be halted immediately since the return of Albanians in northern Kosovska Mitrovica is destabilizing the situation. Today's shooting proves it," he stressed. Minic also said that the "project" was put together by the southern Kosovska Mitrovica municipality, "which is not competent in the matter, because not a single Serb lives in that municipality since the March 2004 violence". The flashpoint town of Kosovska Mitrovica is divided by the Ibar River into its northern, Serb-dominated part with some ethnic Albanian neighborhoods, while no Serbs live in the southern, Albanian part. The protesting Serbs have started to leave the site at noon, but a group remained that would continue with protests throughout the day. On Friday, EULEX police units also used tear gas to prevent a clash between Serbs and ethnic Albanians in Brdjani . Brdjani representative Sinisa Lazic told Tanjug the residents conferred with UNMIK Deputy Regional Representative Joe Kazlas and said they will not allow reconstruction of houses belonging to ethnic Albanians until reciprocity is secured for the return of displaced persons. EULEX police and Kosovo police, KPS, have intensified their presence in the village and KFOR has deployed troops on surrounding hills. Kosovo Albanians started reconstruction of their houses in Brdjani, which the Serbs consider to be a part of northern Kosovska Mitrovica. Serb protesters and ethnic Albanians working on their houses are separated by two police cordons - KPS and EULEX.

Shots fired, police use tear gas in K. Mitrovica

Automatic rifle fire was heard around noon today, but it remained unclear who fired the shots.

There were no casualties, while the Serbs announced they would continue with protests until the renovation of homes in this part of the divided town of Kosovska Mitrovica has been halted.

All this comes on the second day of tensions in the area.

Serb representative Nebojša Minić told UNMIK, KFOR and EULEX officials in a meeting that they would not allow Albanians to return to this part of the town without a previous agreement with the Serbs.

"This project must be halted immediately since the return of Albanians in northern Kosovska Mitrovica is destabilizing the situation. Today's shooting proves it," he stressed.

Minić also said that the "project" was put together by the southern Kosovska Mitrovica municipality, "which is not competent in the matter, because not a single Serb lives in that municipality since the March 2004 violence".

The flashpoint town of Kosovska Mitrovica is divided by the Ibar River into its northern, Serb-dominated part with some ethnic Albanian neighborhoods, while no Serbs live in the southern, Albanian part.

The protesting Serbs have started to leave the site at noon, but a group remained that would continue with protests throughout the day.

On Friday, EULEX police units also used tear gas to prevent a clash between Serbs and ethnic Albanians in Brđani .

Brđani representative Siniša Lazić told Tanjug the residents conferred with UNMIK Deputy Regional Representative Joe Kazlas and said they will not allow reconstruction of houses belonging to ethnic Albanians until reciprocity is secured for the return of displaced persons.

EULEX police and Kosovo police, KPS, have intensified their presence in the village and KFOR has deployed troops on surrounding hills.

Kosovo Albanians started reconstruction of their houses in Brđani, which the Serbs consider to be a part of northern Kosovska Mitrovica.

Serb protesters and ethnic Albanians working on their houses are separated by two police cordons - KPS and EULEX.