Attack on Serb reporters averted

The news crews were filming the scene of Wednesday's clashes between Serbs and Albanians in the part of Kosovska Mitrovica known as the "Three Tower Blocks", and tried to talk to local Albanians about the events that had led to last night's clashes.

After refusing to give any statement, a group of ten young Albanians, angered by the journalists' presence, approached them in order to get them to stop filming.

The KPS intervened and prevented an incident, and the journalists left the scene.

During filming, gun shots could be heard from the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica.

After the clashes between Serbs and Albanians in northern Kosovska Mitrovica, the situation was calm.

The clashes started at about in a part of town populated by both Serbs and Albanians, known as the "Three Tower Blocks".

Four Serbs and three Albanians sustained minor injuries. The Serbs were treated in the local hospital while the Albanians were treated in the southern part of the town, before being discharged.

Doctor Miroslav Dancetović from the hospital in the northern part of the town said that four young Serb men had suffered injuries to the head and lower extremities, that their lives were not in danger, and that they had been injured with stones and knives.

Milija Milosević, the commander of the Kosovo Police Service  station in northern Kosovska Mitrovica said that after 23.00 CET, following an argument between one Serb and a group of Albanians in the "Three Tower Blocks", both Serbs and Albanians started gathering.

Around 50 Serbs and 50 Albanians started hurling stones at each other. Several vehicles were damaged during the incident, including two UNMIK vehicles, while sporadic gun shots were also heard.

The KPS intervened with the help of UNMIK and KFOR soldiers. The situation cooled down after ten minutes, and the night passed by peacefully. The police confirmed that one person had fired shots at Serbs who had gathered after the incident, adding that no one had been injured.

Regional UNMIK Police Commander for Kosovska Mitrovica David McLean did not give precise information as to how the clashes had broken out, but he confirmed that the police had not taken anyone into custody.

At about 04.00 CET, specialized UNMIK police units from Poland and Pakistan withdrew from the estate.

The main bridge on the Ibar that divides Kosovska Mitrovica into the mainly Serb northern and mainly Albanian southern part was cordoned off last night by UN police and the KPS.

The bridge was opened for pedestrians on Thursday.

Apart from an increased presence of patrols from the UNMIK police, the KPS and KFOR, the situation in Kosovska Mitrovica remained peaceful during the day.

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