YUGOSLAVIA: SERBS INJURED IN BUS ATTACK IN KOSOVO ARE TREATED IN BRITISH FIELD HOSPITAL

Record ID: 355461

  • Title: YUGOSLAVIA: SERBS INJURED IN BUS ATTACK IN KOSOVO ARE TREATED IN BRITISH FIELD HOSPITAL
  • Date: 19th February 2001
  • Summary: KOSOVO POLJE, YUGOSLAVIA (FEBRUARY 17, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. SLV EXTERIORS OF BRITISH FIELD HOSPITAL 0.05 2. MV SERBS WOUNDED IN THE BUS ATTACK; WOUNDED PEOPLE IN HOSPITAL BEDS: BRITISH DOCTORS TREATING PATIENTS / DOCTORS TALKING TO PATIENTS; SCU WOMAN PATIENT WAVES TO CAMERA; SCU DOCTOR ATTENDS TO PATIENT PLACING IV IN ARM (12 SHOTS) 1.04 3.
  • Embargoed: 6th March 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KOSOVO POLJE, ROAD NEAR PODUJEVO, MITROVICA AND VECAN, KOSOVO, YUGOSLAVIA
  • City:
  • Country: Yugoslavia
  • Reuters ID: LVA4TZXUZ4M205NMI0BU82SXF4E
  • Story Text: Eleven Serbs wounded in a bomb attack on a bus in
    northern Kosovo which killed seven Serbs on Friday have been
    treated in a British field hospital in Kosovo Polje.

    Several thousand Kosovo Serbs held a protest rally in
    Mitrovica against the bombing as Western powers urged Serbs
    not to attack ethnic Albanians in retaliation for the attack.

    The wounded from the bomb attack on a convoy of Serbs
    being escorted by international peacekeepers were being
    treated at the British field hospital in Kosovo Polye on
    Saturday (February 17).

    NATO peacekeepers believe the bomb which exploded on a bus
    on Friday (February 16) contained up to 200 pounds (90 kg) of
    explosives.

    Whereas some of the victims were in a serious condition
    doctors said no lives were in danger. Twenty-one people were
    still in hospital as a result of the attack, KFOR said.

    Leaders of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority condemned
    Friday's attack - a serious blow to attempts to build peace
    in the volatile province.

    Meanwhile, thousands of Kosovo Serbs on Saturday mourned
    the seven victims of their community as Western powers urged
    Serbs not to attack ethnic Albanians as revenge for the bomb
    explosion.

    In Mitrovica, several thousand Serbs marched to a bridge
    linking Serb and Albanian dominated districts to protest
    against one of the most serious acts of violence in Kosovo
    since NATO bombing drove out Serb forces in 1999 to end the
    repression of Albanians.

    Women from the crowd placed seven bouquets of red
    carnations on the ground in memory of the victims.

    "There were innocent women and children , all civilians ,
    the world should condemn this crime," said Milan Ivanovic.

    Around 1,500 Serbs held a peaceful demonstration in the
    Serb enclave of Gracanica, a spokeswoman for Kosovo's United
    Nations administration said.

    The Yugoslav government declared Sunday (February 18) a
    day of national mourning for those who died in the blast.

    Police said they were questioning two suspects detained on
    Friday near the blast site, but did not say who they thought
    was responsible. No group had claimed responsibility for the
    attack.

    Oliver Ivanovic, the chairman of the Kosovo Serb National
    Council, said General Cabigioso ought to take responsibility
    for placing the Serbs in "jeopardy".

    "I believe that General Cabigioso must resign, considering
    that by his actions he put into jeopardy not only the Serb
    community but also other non-Albanian communities," he said.

    The convoy that came under attack was being escorted by
    members of the KFOR peacekeeping force, charged with
    establishing a safe and secure environment in Kosovo after
    NATO bombing in 1999 drove out Serb forces.

    Major powers condemned the bombing and the United States
    appealed to everyone in the province to keep a cool head.

    Spirals of violence triggered by an attack have frequently
    been the hallmark of post-war Kosovo.

    Kosovo legally remains part of Serb-dominated Yugoslavia
    but has been under de facto international rule since June
    1999.

    The United Nations (U.N.) is charged with giving the
    province autonomy until its final status is agreed. Ethnic
    Albanians want independence, a vision opposed by Kosovo Serbs
    and the Belgrade government.

    Countless acts of ethnic Albanian vengeance have plagued
    the province since the U.N. and NATO moved into Kosovo and
    around 180,000 Serbs are estimated to have fled the province.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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