Serbs protest, Albanians leave K. Mitrovica

Serbs in northern Kosovska Mitrovica will continue their protest today. They are rejecting ethnic Albanians' unilateral declaration of the province's independence. Serbs protest, Albanians leave K. Mitrovica UNMIK police and KFOR have strengthened their patrols in the town, which the Ibar River divides along ethnic lines, although its northern part is also home to some Albanians. There are no Serbs in the south of the city. Kosovo Albanians employed by UNMIK's civilian institutions are, however, are leaving the Serb side of the town, sources with the UN have confirmed. Yesterday, an EU mission that Belgrade rejects as illegal, decided to "temporarily withdraw its staff from the north". The Albanians working at the district court, and even Albanian inmates from a jail, have all been withdrawn. Chairman of the Serb National Council of Northern Kosovo (SNV) Milan Ivanovic told B92 that it is the Serbian state institutions that "came first" in the region, while the Kosovo institutions are parallel. "The withdrawal of Albanians from the institutions in the majority-Serb territory is a logical consequence of this whole situation, and a realistic one. This is the state of affairs on the ground caused by the unilateral Albanian decisions," Ivanovic explained. The EU decision yesterday came after repeated strong Russian warnings against any imposition of the newly formed institutions in the province on unwilling Serbs in the north. The peaceful student protest, organized each day at 12:44 CET to remind that the latest western moves over Kosovo violate UN Resolution 1244, yesterday received support from their colleagues from Russia, Romania, and France, who also attended. The protest continues today, with a concert planned in the afternoon. Kosovo Serbs protest in the north Saturday (FoNet)

Serbs protest, Albanians leave K. Mitrovica

UNMIK police and KFOR have strengthened their patrols in the town, which the Ibar River divides along ethnic lines, although its northern part is also home to some Albanians. There are no Serbs in the south of the city.

Kosovo Albanians employed by UNMIK's civilian institutions are, however, are leaving the Serb side of the town, sources with the UN have confirmed.

Yesterday, an EU mission that Belgrade rejects as illegal, decided to "temporarily withdraw its staff from the north".

The Albanians working at the district court, and even Albanian inmates from a jail, have all been withdrawn.

Chairman of the Serb National Council of Northern Kosovo (SNV) Milan Ivanović told B92 that it is the Serbian state institutions that "came first" in the region, while the Kosovo institutions are parallel.

"The withdrawal of Albanians from the institutions in the majority-Serb territory is a logical consequence of this whole situation, and a realistic one. This is the state of affairs on the ground caused by the unilateral Albanian decisions," Ivanović explained.

The EU decision yesterday came after repeated strong Russian warnings against any imposition of the newly formed institutions in the province on unwilling Serbs in the north.

The peaceful student protest, organized each day at 12:44 CET to remind that the latest western moves over Kosovo violate UN Resolution 1244, yesterday received support from their colleagues from Russia, Romania, and France, who also attended.

The protest continues today, with a concert planned in the afternoon.