NATO’s KFOR mission today used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse Serb demonstrators in the northern city of Zvecan, who were demonstrating in front of city hall to demand the removal of the new mayor, with an Albanian majority. According to the Kossev portal, KFOR intervened when the crowd refused, despite the appeal of its political leaders, to let two special Kosovar police vehicles pass, blocked among the demonstrators since the morning. Protesters demand the withdrawal of all special police from the City Hall building and have reacted with violence, injuring several Atlantic Alliance soldiers, including 11 Italian soldiers.
The Alliance’s harsh response to the episodes was not long in coming: “NATO strongly condemns the unprovoked attacks against KFOR troops in northern Kosovo, which caused several injuries. Such attacks are totally unacceptable. The violence must stop immediately. We call on all sides to refrain from actions that further inflame tensions and engage in dialogue. KFOR will take all necessary steps to maintain a safe and secure environment and will continue to act impartially in accordance with its mandate under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999.” A clear message to protesters in Serbian origin.
Source: IL Tempo
John Cameron is a journalist at The Nation View specializing in world news and current events, particularly in international politics and diplomacy. With expertise in international relations, he covers a range of topics including conflicts, politics and economic trends.
