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 05 September 2008 09:27 BST

UN police forced to withdraw from Kosovo after clashes

Monday, 17 Mar 2008 11:43
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February
United Nations (UN) police in Kosovo have been ordered to leave some Serbian areas after coming under fire from protestors.

UN police and Nato troops clashed with demonstrators in the northern town of Mitrovica during a raid to retake a courthouse occupied by around 300 protestors.

Reports claim that one protestor was killed in the clashes, with another 70 injured. At least 22 UN police and two Nato troops have also been reported injured.

The incident marks the worst violence since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia last month.

Earlier today, while the violent clashes were still taking place, the UN issued a statement saying a decision had been made to withdraw its police force from Mitrovica, the biggest city in Serb-dominated northern Kosovo.

"An order has been given for UNMK police to withdraw from the north because of ongoing violent riots," a spokesman told the Reuters news agency.

Some 53 Serbs were arrested earlier today as 100 UN police officers launched the operation to retake the UN courthouse surrounded by protestors.

Serbian demonstrators had been staging continual rallies outside the building, believed to be former staff who lost their jobs in 1999 when Kosovo came under UN administration.

The recent outbreak in violence coincides with the fourth anniversary of inter-ethnic violent clashes in Mitrovica that left 31 people dead.End of story


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