KFOR: We used automatic weapons, but only as warning

KFOR spokesman Etienne du Fayet de la Tour spoke to reporters about the violence in Kosovska Mitrovica. He confirmed late Monday that KFOR units had used automatic weapons in the riots that erupted in the northern part of the town earlier that day, but that they had fired only warning shots. KFOR: We used automatic weapons, but only as warning "We used automatic weapons to respond but fired only warning shots. We shot in the air, not into the crowd,” the French spokesman told Reuters. The spokesman said that eight French soldiers had sustained injuries from "grenades, stones and Molotov cocktails.” Ukraine's Interior Minister Yuri Lucenko confirmed that 14 Ukrainian policemen had been wounded when, as he specified, the attackers had attacked their police station. One Ukrainian in the meantime succumbed to his injuries. That country is now considering pulling its troops out of Kosovo, reports suggested Tuesday. Poland also said in a statement that 13 of its policemen had been injured in the riots in Kosovska Mitrovica. The clashed broke out following an UNMIK-KFOR raid of the Municipal and District Court in which several dozen Serbs, former employees of that institution, had been protesting for several days demanding to return to their jobs, which they had been ordered to leave in August 1999. The riots escalated into open clashes in which automatic weapons, tear gas and stun grenades were used. 70 Serbs were wounded, 15 of whom sustained serious injuries and were admitted in hospital for treatment, while two Serbs in critical condition – Ilija Cuca and Nebojsa Vukomanovic – have been transported to hospitals in Belgrade and Kragujevac. Also late Monday, NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe John Craddock said in Kabul. Afghanistan, that KFOR had to use force in northern Kosovska Mitrovica. "It is possible that some Serbs were injured in the action," Craddock, a U.S. army general, said, and added that he "did not have precise data even after talking with his commanders in the field". "KFOR forces had to use both deadly and non-deadly weapons in order to establish control of the rioting mass," Craddock told the press. Kosovska Mitrovica yesterday (FoNet)

KFOR: We used automatic weapons, but only as warning

"We used automatic weapons to respond but fired only warning shots. We shot in the air, not into the crowd,” the French spokesman told Reuters.

The spokesman said that eight French soldiers had sustained injuries from "grenades, stones and Molotov cocktails.”

Ukraine's Interior Minister Yuri Lucenko confirmed that 14 Ukrainian policemen had been wounded when, as he specified, the attackers had attacked their police station.

One Ukrainian in the meantime succumbed to his injuries. That country is now considering pulling its troops out of Kosovo, reports suggested Tuesday.

Poland also said in a statement that 13 of its policemen had been injured in the riots in Kosovska Mitrovica.

The clashed broke out following an UNMIK-KFOR raid of the Municipal and District Court in which several dozen Serbs, former employees of that institution, had been protesting for several days demanding to return to their jobs, which they had been ordered to leave in August 1999.

The riots escalated into open clashes in which automatic weapons, tear gas and stun grenades were used.

70 Serbs were wounded, 15 of whom sustained serious injuries and were admitted in hospital for treatment, while two Serbs in critical condition – Ilija Ćuća and Nebojša Vukomanović – have been transported to hospitals in Belgrade and Kragujevac.

Also late Monday, NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe John Craddock said in Kabul. Afghanistan, that KFOR had to use force in northern Kosovska Mitrovica.

"It is possible that some Serbs were injured in the action," Craddock, a U.S. army general, said, and added that he "did not have precise data even after talking with his commanders in the field".

"KFOR forces had to use both deadly and non-deadly weapons in order to establish control of the rioting mass," Craddock told the press.