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Kosovo Serbs defy Nato demands over blockades | Kosovo Serbs defy Nato demands over blockades |
(2 days later) | |
Ethnic Serbs in Kosovo have defied demands by Nato to remove roadblocks, amid tensions over control of border crossings between Serbia and Kosovo. | Ethnic Serbs in Kosovo have defied demands by Nato to remove roadblocks, amid tensions over control of border crossings between Serbia and Kosovo. |
Nato peacekeepers had given the minority Serbs until Tuesday to remove barricades set up at two crossings. | Nato peacekeepers had given the minority Serbs until Tuesday to remove barricades set up at two crossings. |
But Nato troops sent to the area left without dismantling them in an apparent bid to give the Serbs more time. | But Nato troops sent to the area left without dismantling them in an apparent bid to give the Serbs more time. |
The blockades were erected in July when the mainly ethnic Albanian government sought to seize the crossings. | The blockades were erected in July when the mainly ethnic Albanian government sought to seize the crossings. |
Last month, after a two-week stand-off with Nato-led peacekeepers, a deal was reached to allow Nato to control the crossings. | Last month, after a two-week stand-off with Nato-led peacekeepers, a deal was reached to allow Nato to control the crossings. |
But Tuesday's deadline passed without the roadblocks of rocks, mud and logs being dismantled. | But Tuesday's deadline passed without the roadblocks of rocks, mud and logs being dismantled. |
Peacekeepers from Nato's Kosovo force, K-For, withdrew their convoy of trucks and armoured personnel carriers from one of the crossings, about 100km (60 miles) north of the capital, Pristina. | Peacekeepers from Nato's Kosovo force, K-For, withdrew their convoy of trucks and armoured personnel carriers from one of the crossings, about 100km (60 miles) north of the capital, Pristina. |
"We've been given orders to go back, as we cannot go through barricades," a Nato commander in the field told Reuters news agency. | "We've been given orders to go back, as we cannot go through barricades," a Nato commander in the field told Reuters news agency. |
Serb politicians said no action would be taken before their leaders debate a compromise proposal on Wednesday. | Serb politicians said no action would be taken before their leaders debate a compromise proposal on Wednesday. |
Extra troops | Extra troops |
The initial dispute was caused by a trade ban between Serbia and Kosovo. | The initial dispute was caused by a trade ban between Serbia and Kosovo. |
In July, the government in Pristina had sent security forces to the crossing points at Jarinje and Brnjak to enforce a ban on Serbian imports, to which Serbs responded by blocking roads. | In July, the government in Pristina had sent security forces to the crossing points at Jarinje and Brnjak to enforce a ban on Serbian imports, to which Serbs responded by blocking roads. |
The trade ban was imposed in response to Belgrade's effective bar on imports from Kosovo since its declaration of independence. | The trade ban was imposed in response to Belgrade's effective bar on imports from Kosovo since its declaration of independence. |
Nato deployed hundreds of extra troops to guard the border. | Nato deployed hundreds of extra troops to guard the border. |
The Nato-brokered deal stated that K-For would patrol the disputed crossings, in return for Serbs in Kosovo dismantling the roadblocks. | The Nato-brokered deal stated that K-For would patrol the disputed crossings, in return for Serbs in Kosovo dismantling the roadblocks. |
Serbia has refused to recognise Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence. | Serbia has refused to recognise Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence. |
The unilateral declaration has now been recognised by more than 80 countries, despite strong opposition from Belgrade. |
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