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| Peacekeepers hurt in Kosovo blast | Peacekeepers hurt in Kosovo blast |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Three UN policemen and two Nato troops have been injured in an explosion in northern Kosovo, local police said. | Three UN policemen and two Nato troops have been injured in an explosion in northern Kosovo, local police said. |
| The blast occurred during clashes between international peacekeepers and Serb demonstrators in the divided city of Mitrovica. | |
| UN police were later ordered to withdraw from the Serb-held northern part of Mitrovica, a UN official said. | UN police were later ordered to withdraw from the Serb-held northern part of Mitrovica, a UN official said. |
| The clashes began when UN police raided a UN court in the city, retaking it from Serbs who had seized it on Friday. | The clashes began when UN police raided a UN court in the city, retaking it from Serbs who had seized it on Friday. |
| This is the worst violence seen in Kosovo since its unilateral declaration of independence on 17 February, the BBC's Helen Fawkes says. | This is the worst violence seen in Kosovo since its unilateral declaration of independence on 17 February, the BBC's Helen Fawkes says. |
| Kosovo Serbs and Serbia refuse to recognise Kosovo's independence. | Kosovo Serbs and Serbia refuse to recognise Kosovo's independence. |
| Protesters freed | Protesters freed |
| "A blast occurred in northern Kosovo around 0810am (0710 GMT), injuring three UN policemen and two [Nato's] K-For soldiers," Kosovo's police said in a statement. | "A blast occurred in northern Kosovo around 0810am (0710 GMT), injuring three UN policemen and two [Nato's] K-For soldiers," Kosovo's police said in a statement. |
| It did not provide any further details, but police spokesman Beshim Hoti was quoted by the AFP as saying he believed it was a hand grenade. | It did not provide any further details, but police spokesman Beshim Hoti was quoted by the AFP as saying he believed it was a hand grenade. |
| Earlier on Monday, some 100 UN police arrested more than 50 Serbs in the operation to retake the UN court, which is in a Serb-run part of the city. | Earlier on Monday, some 100 UN police arrested more than 50 Serbs in the operation to retake the UN court, which is in a Serb-run part of the city. |
| They also used tear gas to disperse Serbs who had gathered outside the building. | They also used tear gas to disperse Serbs who had gathered outside the building. |
| At least one UN vehicle was set ablaze and several protesters were reported to have been injured in the clashes. | At least one UN vehicle was set ablaze and several protesters were reported to have been injured in the clashes. |
| A UN convoy transporting those detained in the raid was then attacked, and some of the demonstrators managed to escape. | A UN convoy transporting those detained in the raid was then attacked, and some of the demonstrators managed to escape. |
| Gunfire was also reported during the clashes. | Gunfire was also reported during the clashes. |
| Many of the protesters who seized the court last week are said to be former staff who lost their jobs in 1999 at the end of the war in Kosovo, when it came under UN administration. | Many of the protesters who seized the court last week are said to be former staff who lost their jobs in 1999 at the end of the war in Kosovo, when it came under UN administration. |
| Serbs had staged rallies outside the building for several weeks, preventing ethnic Albanian court employees from crossing the bridge over the Ibar River that divides Mitrovica into a Serb-run north and an ethnic Albanian south. | Serbs had staged rallies outside the building for several weeks, preventing ethnic Albanian court employees from crossing the bridge over the Ibar River that divides Mitrovica into a Serb-run north and an ethnic Albanian south. |
| Tension in the region has risen sharply since Kosovo declared independence. | Tension in the region has risen sharply since Kosovo declared independence. |
| Last week, Serbs tried to take control of a railway line in the northern Kosovo. | Last week, Serbs tried to take control of a railway line in the northern Kosovo. |
| In February, some 150 Kosovo Serb police officers were suspended for refusing to take orders from the ethnic Albanian authorities in Kosovo's capital, Pristina. | In February, some 150 Kosovo Serb police officers were suspended for refusing to take orders from the ethnic Albanian authorities in Kosovo's capital, Pristina. |
| Most EU states and the US have recognised Pristina's unilateral declaration of independence. | Most EU states and the US have recognised Pristina's unilateral declaration of independence. |
| Serbia - backed by its ally Russia - says the move is illegal. | Serbia - backed by its ally Russia - says the move is illegal. |