Plea for calm after Kovoso shootout
- 13 years ago
PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
At least 16 Kosovo Serbs and four NATO peacekeepers have been wounded in the latest violence in Kosovo.
The trouble flared when NATO forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up a crowd protesting over the removal of a Serb-held barricade.
The barricade lies on a small road just 150 metres from the Jarinje border post linking Kosovo with Serbia.
NATO said its troops acted in self-defence and were wounded by home-made explosive devices thrown at their position.
It also says its forces fired rubber bullets, although doctors treating the wounded at a hospital in Mitrovica said several of the casualties came in with gunshot wounds.
The European Union law and justice mission in Kosovo is appealing for calm.
SOUNDBITE: Nicholas Hawton, spokesman for European Union Law and Justice Mission in Kosovo, saying (English):
"Violence is not the way forward. People should remain calm and act responsibly at this time. It is important also that people respect the rule of law."
The incident came as negotiators from Belgrade and Pristina were due to meet in Brussels for talks aimed at resolving problems like flows of goods and people, and property rights.
Paul Chapman, Reuters
At least 16 Kosovo Serbs and four NATO peacekeepers have been wounded in the latest violence in Kosovo.
The trouble flared when NATO forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up a crowd protesting over the removal of a Serb-held barricade.
The barricade lies on a small road just 150 metres from the Jarinje border post linking Kosovo with Serbia.
NATO said its troops acted in self-defence and were wounded by home-made explosive devices thrown at their position.
It also says its forces fired rubber bullets, although doctors treating the wounded at a hospital in Mitrovica said several of the casualties came in with gunshot wounds.
The European Union law and justice mission in Kosovo is appealing for calm.
SOUNDBITE: Nicholas Hawton, spokesman for European Union Law and Justice Mission in Kosovo, saying (English):
"Violence is not the way forward. People should remain calm and act responsibly at this time. It is important also that people respect the rule of law."
The incident came as negotiators from Belgrade and Pristina were due to meet in Brussels for talks aimed at resolving problems like flows of goods and people, and property rights.
Paul Chapman, Reuters