NATO-led KFOR troops have secured municipal buildings in northern Kosovo as standoffs between local ethnic Serbs and ethnic Albanian authorities continued on May 29.
Amra Zejneli, RFE/RL’s Balkan Service, said: “Some injured members of the KFOR were seen on the streets of Zvecan after they intervened to disperse the Serbian protesters. The NATO peacekeeping mission, the KFOR, intervened to disperse the protesters in Zvecan. The protesters did not heed the KFOR’s earlier call to disperse. Tear gas, flames, and smoke engulfed the area. Sirens and detonations were also heard.”
Tensions erupted three days earlier when crowds of Serbs tried to prevent recently elected Albanian mayors from entering their offices in multiple municipalities.
The elections that were held on April 23, in areas with a majority Serb population, were boycotted by the dominant Kosovo Serb political party. Now, local Serbs want the Albanian officials removed.
