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Kosovo parliament buys scanners to stop MPs bringing teargas to work | Kosovo parliament buys scanners to stop MPs bringing teargas to work |
(6 months later) | |
Kosovo’s government is buying a body scanner to try to stop opposition legislators smuggling teargas canisters into parliament and releasing them as they have done in every session for the past six months. | Kosovo’s government is buying a body scanner to try to stop opposition legislators smuggling teargas canisters into parliament and releasing them as they have done in every session for the past six months. |
In their latest protest against a 2015 EU-brokered deal with Serbia, opposition members of parliament on Thursday released two canisters, threw a glass of water at the prime minister, Isa Mustafa, and aimed red lasers at the interior minister’s face. | In their latest protest against a 2015 EU-brokered deal with Serbia, opposition members of parliament on Thursday released two canisters, threw a glass of water at the prime minister, Isa Mustafa, and aimed red lasers at the interior minister’s face. |
With security measures so far having failed to stop the protests, the government plans to buy a new body scanner, of the type used at international airports to detect explosives. | With security measures so far having failed to stop the protests, the government plans to buy a new body scanner, of the type used at international airports to detect explosives. |
Opposition members said it was “top secret” how they smuggled the canisters into parliament. | Opposition members said it was “top secret” how they smuggled the canisters into parliament. |
However, one police officer checking deputies at the building, speaking on condition of anonymity, said be believed they hid the canisters on their body, under their clothes. | However, one police officer checking deputies at the building, speaking on condition of anonymity, said be believed they hid the canisters on their body, under their clothes. |
He said the existing scanners did not necessarily detect the canisters – some of which easily fit in a pocket – because they were covered in plastic and rubber. | He said the existing scanners did not necessarily detect the canisters – some of which easily fit in a pocket – because they were covered in plastic and rubber. |
Police only say publicly they are investigating how the canisters are being taken into parliament. | Police only say publicly they are investigating how the canisters are being taken into parliament. |
The government said the new scanner would cost around €270,000 (£212,000/US$300,000). Parliament has already had new ventilators installed on the roof to clear the gas. | The government said the new scanner would cost around €270,000 (£212,000/US$300,000). Parliament has already had new ventilators installed on the roof to clear the gas. |
The opposition has been protesting for months against the EU-brokered deal to give more power to a Serb minority. | The opposition has been protesting for months against the EU-brokered deal to give more power to a Serb minority. |
The agreement, which has yet to take effect following a critical judicial review by Kosovo’s highest court, has set off the worst political crisis in the country, whose population is 90% ethnic Albanian, since independence in 2008. | The agreement, which has yet to take effect following a critical judicial review by Kosovo’s highest court, has set off the worst political crisis in the country, whose population is 90% ethnic Albanian, since independence in 2008. |
The opposition, which has been demanding the resignation of the government over the agreement, is call its supporters to protest on 26 March. | The opposition, which has been demanding the resignation of the government over the agreement, is call its supporters to protest on 26 March. |
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, almost a decade after Nato air strikes drove out Serbian security forces accused of killing and expelling ethnic Albanian civilians during a counter-insurgency war. | Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, almost a decade after Nato air strikes drove out Serbian security forces accused of killing and expelling ethnic Albanian civilians during a counter-insurgency war. |
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