This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18294949#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Shots fired as K-For tackles Kosovo Serb roadblocks | Shots fired as K-For tackles Kosovo Serb roadblocks |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Four Serbs and two K-For soldiers have been injured in a clash in northern Kosovo during an attempt by peacekeepers to clear roadblocks. | |
The Nato-led force said its soldiers had fired rubber bullets and tear gas after Serbs threw stones at a roadblock near the town of Zvecan. | |
The soldiers were shot, reportedly hit by pistol fire from the crowd. | |
Serbs set up roadblocks last year after Kosovo and the EU tried to take control of the disputed border with Serbia. | Serbs set up roadblocks last year after Kosovo and the EU tried to take control of the disputed border with Serbia. |
The border has been the scene of recurrent violence between K-For and ethnic Serbs who make up the majority in northern Kosovo. | The border has been the scene of recurrent violence between K-For and ethnic Serbs who make up the majority in northern Kosovo. |
Serbia's new nationalist President, Tomislav Nikolic, was sworn in on Thursday. | Serbia's new nationalist President, Tomislav Nikolic, was sworn in on Thursday. |
Earlier this week, Mr Nikolic said he would "never" recognise Kosovo as an independent state, even if it meant sacrificing the chance of EU membership. | Earlier this week, Mr Nikolic said he would "never" recognise Kosovo as an independent state, even if it meant sacrificing the chance of EU membership. |
The K-For action to remove barricades is being seen by some Serb analysts as a warning to the new Serbian president to respect EU-mediated agreements reached by his predecessor, Boris Tadic, earlier this year, the BBC's Nick Thorpe reports. | |
Serbs 'shot' | |
Several hundred Serbs had gathered in the village of Rudare to protect barricades, and fighting began when K-For troops in armoured personnel carriers moved in. | Several hundred Serbs had gathered in the village of Rudare to protect barricades, and fighting began when K-For troops in armoured personnel carriers moved in. |
K-For said in a statement it had started removing roadblocks to "improve freedom of movement" for both its troops and the citizens. | K-For said in a statement it had started removing roadblocks to "improve freedom of movement" for both its troops and the citizens. |
The German army confirmed two of its soldiers had received non-life threatening gunshot injuries. One was reportedly hit in the ear, the other in the arm. | |
Four Serbs were admitted to hospital in Mitrovica, the main town in northern Kosovo, hospital chief Milan Jakovljevic told Serbian news website S media portal. | |
Two had bullet wounds, one was injured by a rubber bullet and the fourth had a head injury, he was quoted as saying, in a report which cannot be independently verified. | |
'No-go area' | |
Oliver Ivanovic, the official dealing with Kosovo in Serbia's outgoing government, criticised K-For, accusing it of reviving tension at a time when efforts were being made to unblock EU-mediated talks. | |
The situation, he warned, was "very dangerous and could escalate". | The situation, he warned, was "very dangerous and could escalate". |
Krstimir Pantic, mayor of the Serb-controlled part of Mitrovica, said the local council and "the people" had warned K-For and EU law enforcement officers not to enter the Serb-controlled area after the latest clash. | |
"We have decided to tell them that the [Serb part of] Mitrovica is not open for them... that we cannot guarantee them safety," he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. | |
Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority broke away from Serbia in 1999 following the war between Belgrade and Nato, and they declared independence in 2008. | Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority broke away from Serbia in 1999 following the war between Belgrade and Nato, and they declared independence in 2008. |
At least 80 countries have recognised Kosovo as a state, but a larger number, led by Serbia and Russia, have withheld recognition. | At least 80 countries have recognised Kosovo as a state, but a larger number, led by Serbia and Russia, have withheld recognition. |
President Nikolic has a reputation as a nationalist, and his election victory caused dismay across the Balkans among those who fear a resurgent Serbia, our correspondent says. | |
But some commentators suggest Serbia will remain on track to EU membership, and that its policy of tough rhetoric but pragmatic negotiations with Kosovo will continue, Nick Thorpe adds. |