SERBIA: Three U.N. cars are damaged in an explosion in a residential area of Kosovo capital Pristina

Record ID: 359332

  • Title: SERBIA: Three U.N. cars are damaged in an explosion in a residential area of Kosovo capital Pristina
  • Date: 20th February 2007
  • Summary: UN VEHICLE UN POLICEMAN
  • Embargoed: 7th March 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Serbia
  • Country: Serbia
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA2GHMBC8HJPB98XF0CL8N46T67
  • Story Text: Three U.N. cars were damaged in an explosion in a residential area of the Kosovo capital Pristina on Monday, but no one was hurt, witnesses said.
    "Around 20:00 hours we had an explosion in "Afrim Lluxha" street, there were just three UN vehicles damaged and on civilian vehicle. All necessary units are on the crime scene and we are waiting for the examination of the crime scene," said Agron Borovci.
    Tensions are rising in Serbia's U.N.-run province as a decision nears on the 90 percent Albanian majority's demand for independence.
    Serbs and Albanians are due to meet on Wednesday in Vienna for final talks on a U.N. plan unveiled this month which would, if adopted by the U.N. Security Council, set the province on the path to statehood.
    But some Albanians are angry at provisions for a powerful European overseer and broad self-government for the 100,000 Serbs, which they say will only prolong Kosovo's limbo status.
    Two protesters died during clashes on Feb. 10 between police and ethnic Albanians demonstrating against the plan, the worst violence since March 2004. Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku said police had used excessive force and the head of the U.N. police force resigned.
    Kosovo has been run by the United Nations since 1999, when NATO bombs drove out Serb forces accused of killing and expelling civilians in a two-year counter-insurgency war.
    Western powers support the plan drafted by former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, but have twice delayed the process in the past three months to avoid radicalising Serbia.
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