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Two KFOR Soldiers Wounded In Kosovo

November 28, 2011

The NATO-led force in Kosovo says two of its soldiers have been wounded by gunfire in clashes with Serb demonstrators in north Kosovo.

Clashes broke out on the morning of November 28 as KFOR soldiers began removing one of a dozen of roadblocks put up by local Serbs in July after Kosovo's ethnic Albanian-dominated government tried to send border police and customs officials to the mainly Serb north.

Germany's military later confirmed the two injured soldiers were German.

Speaking in Pristina, Nicholas Hawton, a spokesman for the European Union law and justice mission in Kosovo (EULEX), denounced the attack.

"EULEX absolutely condemns violence of this kind against KFOR or against any international institutions, he said. "KFOR and EULEX are in northern Kosovo to try and improve and increase the rule of law and this violence is condemned and our thoughts are obviously with the two KFOR soldiers who have been injured this morning."

KFOR said its soldiers had used tear gas to disperse demonstrators at the roadblock in Jagnjenica. It also said demonstrators used small fire arms, wounding two soldiers.

Local media reported that five Serbs were admitted to the hospital.

In Belgrade, Serbian President Boris Tadic urged both sides to "immediately calm down the situation and ensure full freedom of movement exclusively through dialogue and without using violence."

Serbs in northern Kosovo reject the independence from Serbia that was declared by predominantly ethnic Albanian Kosovo declared in 2008.

compiled from agency reports

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/kosovo_kfor_soldiers_wounded/24404655.html

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Two KFOR Soldiers Wounded In Kosovo