YUGOSLAVIA: PEACEKEEPERS FIRE TEAR GAS TO DISPERSE STONE-THROWING KOSOVAN-ALBANIANS PROTESTING AGAINST ARRESTS OF FORMER GUERRILLAS

Record ID: 350398

  • Title: YUGOSLAVIA: PEACEKEEPERS FIRE TEAR GAS TO DISPERSE STONE-THROWING KOSOVAN-ALBANIANS PROTESTING AGAINST ARRESTS OF FORMER GUERRILLAS
  • Date: 16th August 2002
  • Summary: (U7) DECANE, KOSOVO, YUGOSLAVIA (AUGUST 15, 2002) (REUTERS) 1. SLV ITALIAN KFOR TROOPS SECURING LOCATION OF DEMONSTRATION; SLV AMBULANCE ARRIVING AT DEMONSTRATION; SLV POLICE UNIT SEALING OFF ROAD; SLV POLICE CORDON OPPOSITE PROTESTERS(4 SHOTS) 0.34 2. MV ITALIAN KFOR SOLDIERS AT THE LOCATION 0.40 3. SLV UNMIK (UN MISSION IN KOSOVO) POLICE
  • Embargoed: 31st August 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DECANE, KOSOVO, YUGOSLAVIA
  • City:
  • Country: Yugoslavia
  • Reuters ID: LVAACZ9X5FLPY3MT3DXW0WMLML91
  • Story Text: Peace-keepers have fired tear-gas to disperse
    stone-throwing Kosovo-Albanians protesting against the arrests
    of former guerrillas, in a clash injuring 11 international
    police, a U.N. official said.

    Local media said many demonstrators were also hurt
    during the protest that turned violent in the western town of
    Decane in the United Nations-governed Yugoslav province.

    The incident highlighted the risk of anger boiling over as
    the United Nations seeks to crack down on crime committed by
    ex-members of the rebel army that fought harsh Serb rule in
    1998-99, regarded by many Kosovo Albanians as heroes of a
    liberation war.

    The force has detained several former Kosovo Liberation
    Army fighters in recent months for alleged crimes committed
    after the conflict, including the arrest last Sunday of
    Rrustem Mustafa, better known under his nom-de-guerre,
    Commander Remi.

    U.N. press officer Andrea Angeli said special police from
    Spain, Argentina and Ukraine backed by armoured personnel
    carriers intervened when protesters blocked a road leading to
    the larger town of Djakovica.

    Earlier reports had said they were soldiers from the
    NATO-led KFOR peacekeeping force, which provided support with
    troops and helicopters.

    "We can confirm that they used tear-gas to disperse the
    crowd," Angeli said. "Eleven international police officers
    were injured," he told Reuters, adding most were hit by
    stones.

    One KFOR soldier was also hurt, he said.

    Security forces arrested 23 people, later releasing three
    juveniles. "We are actively looking for one of the main
    organisers who repeatedly incited the crowd," Angeli said.

    The deputy commander of U.N. police in Kosovo was also
    attacked when he arrived at the scene, he said.

    U.N. officials running the province have made clear they
    will crack down on ex-guerrillas guilty of crimes in Kosovo
    despite the risks of a backlash from local people.

    Protests earlier this week in the northern town of
    Podujevo, where Remi was regional commander, attracted
    thousands of people but ended peacefully. New protests are
    planned in Podujevo and the provincial capital Pristina on
    Friday.

    KFOR detained six people on Monday whom it described as
    members of armed extremist groups threatening regional
    stability.

    Separately, an international prosecutor has indicted six
    other Kosovo Albanians arrested about two months ago for
    serious crimes committed in June 1999, including one for
    murder.

    Kosovo was placed under U.N.-led administration in 1999
    after NATO's 11-week bombing campaign to end harsh Serb rule
    under ex-Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.


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