KFOR removes one barricade, Serbs build another

KFOR troops this afternoon finished removing a barricade near the Brnjak checkpoint on the administrative line between Kosovo and central Serbia. But the Ribaric-Zubin Potok road remains blocked and closed for traffic, because local Serbs quickly built another barricade on Friday to replace the one dismantled by the NATO forces. KFOR removes one barricade, Serbs build another According to reports, the new barricade is bigger that the previous one, reaching five meters in height, while diggers continue to haul in more soil. Several French soldiers and about 30 Serbs are at the location. Scuffles were reported earlier this morning when KFOR moved to clear the old barricade. A soldier used pepper spray against one of the local Serbs, spraying the chemical in his eyes. Locals are also saying that a cordon of KFOR soldiers placed in front of the old barricade was located in the territory of central Serbia. A KFOR helicopter was seen flying over the Brnjak area on Friday afternoon, while KFOR troops were spotted on nearby hills, videotaping and photographing the scene. And while Serbs continue to man other barricades they put up across the north of the province, Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic said the operation to remove the roadblock near the Brnjak administrative crossing was completely unnecessary and that it could only incite tension and serious problems. "A particular problem in this situation is that it is possible that the barricade the KFOR soldiers are trying to remove today is located on a territory that is formally part of another municipality. I am afraid that KFOR might have crossed the administrative line (between Kosovo and central Serbia) and that it could be a cause of a serious diplomatic incident," Ivanovic told Tanjug earlier today, before KFOR removed the roadblock. He stressed that KFOR had to stay within the bounds of the Zubin Potok municipality. "I believe that the operation cannot bring any good, but rather only raise new practical issues and tension. I'm afraid this will only lead to further fortification of barricades in the whole of northern Kosovo," Ivanovic stated. Last week, local Serb leaders agreed to allow KFOR to move freely through their communities, opening one lane on the roads that have been blocked, but decided to continue blocking the EU mission, EULEX, demanding that EULEX stop transporting customs and police workers of the Kosovo Albanian authorities to the administrative line checkpoints of Jarinje and Brnjak. KFOR said that they would not accept to move freely until all other international missions were given the same opportunity. Serbs form a majority population north of the Ibar River. They reject the authority of the government in Pristina, as well as ethnic Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence made in February 2008. Northern Serbs and KFOR troops scuffle at the barricade (Tanjug)

KFOR removes one barricade, Serbs build another

According to reports, the new barricade is bigger that the previous one, reaching five meters in height, while diggers continue to haul in more soil. Several French soldiers and about 30 Serbs are at the location.

Scuffles were reported earlier this morning when KFOR moved to clear the old barricade. A soldier used pepper spray against one of the local Serbs, spraying the chemical in his eyes.

Locals are also saying that a cordon of KFOR soldiers placed in front of the old barricade was located in the territory of central Serbia.

A KFOR helicopter was seen flying over the Brnjak area on Friday afternoon, while KFOR troops were spotted on nearby hills, videotaping and photographing the scene.

And while Serbs continue to man other barricades they put up across the north of the province, Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanović said the operation to remove the roadblock near the Brnjak administrative crossing was completely unnecessary and that it could only incite tension and serious problems.

"A particular problem in this situation is that it is possible that the barricade the KFOR soldiers are trying to remove today is located on a territory that is formally part of another municipality. I am afraid that KFOR might have crossed the administrative line (between Kosovo and central Serbia) and that it could be a cause of a serious diplomatic incident," Ivanović told Tanjug earlier today, before KFOR removed the roadblock.

He stressed that KFOR had to stay within the bounds of the Zubin Potok municipality.

"I believe that the operation cannot bring any good, but rather only raise new practical issues and tension. I'm afraid this will only lead to further fortification of barricades in the whole of northern Kosovo," Ivanović stated.

Last week, local Serb leaders agreed to allow KFOR to move freely through their communities, opening one lane on the roads that have been blocked, but decided to continue blocking the EU mission, EULEX, demanding that EULEX stop transporting customs and police workers of the Kosovo Albanian authorities to the administrative line checkpoints of Jarinje and Brnjak.

KFOR said that they would not accept to move freely until all other international missions were given the same opportunity.

Serbs form a majority population north of the Ibar River. They reject the authority of the government in Priština, as well as ethnic Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence made in February 2008.