KFOR extends deadline, barricades still on roads

The ultimatum of the NATO forces in Kosovo, KFOR, set for the removal of barricades expired at midnight, but it was extended for another day on Tuesday. Around noon today a KFOR convoy moved from the southern, ethnic Albanian part of Kosovska Mitrovica, through ethnic Albanian villages, to reach the barricade near Zupce, manned by local Serbs. KFOR extends deadline, barricades still on roads There the convoy was halted, and after KFOR officers and representatives of local authorities discussed the situation, the troops and their vehicles headed back to their base. It was then announced that the KFOR deadline was extended for one day. On Wednesday, councilors and mayors of the four Serb municipalities are scheduled to meet for a joint session to discuss the crisis. According to reports, KFOR will not undertake any action regarding the roadblocks today and tomorrow, until the meeting of municipal representatives had finished. Earlier today reports said that a compromise solution was being sought, while the citizens were called on not to confront KFOR if there is violent removal of barricades. None were removed last night, while a compromise being mentioned is that Serbs would remain at the road blocks, but allowing KFOR vehicles to pass through. Since early on Tuesday, more people have been gathering at the barricade near Zupce, on the road that leads to the administrative checkpoint of Brnjak. A similar situation has been reported from the barricade near Leposavic. Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic appealed on KFOR to postpone their removal of barricades until a decision of four northern municipalities, whose meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, and said a forcible removal of the blocks would carry with it the risk of further tensions. Head of Belgrade's negotiating team in the Kosovo dialogue Borislav Stefanovic stated on Monday that Serbia was using its contacts on various levels so as to prevent the action aimed at removal of roadblocks in northern Kosovo, while President Boris Tadic said he had "sent a message" to the people from the north related to the issue. In the meantime Belgrade-based daily Blic says that KFOR decided to send "between 12 and 15 trucks of supplies" to the two administrative line checkpoints. NATO office in Belgrade chief Mauro de Vincentis has state that "despite the KFOR call there would be no violence in northern Kosovo". Local Serbs put up the barricades in a bid to prevent the Kosovo Albanian authorities from installing their customs and police at Brnjak and Jarinje, on the administrative line between central Serbia and Kosovo. Serbs in the north, where they form a majority, reject the authority of the government in Pristina and the unilateral ethnic Albanian declaration of independence made in February 2008. Serb representatives meet with KFOR representatives on Tuesday at Zupce (Tanjug)

KFOR extends deadline, barricades still on roads

There the convoy was halted, and after KFOR officers and representatives of local authorities discussed the situation, the troops and their vehicles headed back to their base.

It was then announced that the KFOR deadline was extended for one day. On Wednesday, councilors and mayors of the four Serb municipalities are scheduled to meet for a joint session to discuss the crisis.

According to reports, KFOR will not undertake any action regarding the roadblocks today and tomorrow, until the meeting of municipal representatives had finished.

Earlier today reports said that a compromise solution was being sought, while the citizens were called on not to confront KFOR if there is violent removal of barricades.

None were removed last night, while a compromise being mentioned is that Serbs would remain at the road blocks, but allowing KFOR vehicles to pass through.

Since early on Tuesday, more people have been gathering at the barricade near Zupče, on the road that leads to the administrative checkpoint of Brnjak.

A similar situation has been reported from the barricade near Leposavić.

Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović appealed on KFOR to postpone their removal of barricades until a decision of four northern municipalities, whose meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, and said a forcible removal of the blocks would carry with it the risk of further tensions.

Head of Belgrade's negotiating team in the Kosovo dialogue Borislav Stefanović stated on Monday that Serbia was using its contacts on various levels so as to prevent the action aimed at removal of roadblocks in northern Kosovo, while President Boris Tadić said he had "sent a message" to the people from the north related to the issue.

In the meantime Belgrade-based daily Blic says that KFOR decided to send "between 12 and 15 trucks of supplies" to the two administrative line checkpoints.

NATO office in Belgrade chief Mauro de Vincentis has state that "despite the KFOR call there would be no violence in northern Kosovo".

Local Serbs put up the barricades in a bid to prevent the Kosovo Albanian authorities from installing their customs and police at Brnjak and Jarinje, on the administrative line between central Serbia and Kosovo.

Serbs in the north, where they form a majority, reject the authority of the government in Priština and the unilateral ethnic Albanian declaration of independence made in February 2008.