This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7300015.stm

The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
UN police retake Kosovo's court Peacekeepers hurt in Kosovo blast
(about 2 hours later)
UN riot police have stormed a UN-run court in northern Kosovo, retaking it from Serbs who have forcibly occupied the building since Friday. Three UN policemen and two Nato troops have been injured in an explosion in northern Kosovo, local police said.
Some 100 police took part in the raid in the Serb-held part of the city of Mitrovica, arresting dozens of Serbs. The blast occurred during clashes between UN riot police and Nato soldiers with Serb demonstrators in the divided city of Mitrovica.
Police later used tear gas to disperse Serbs who gathered outside the building after the dawn operation. It came after about 100 UN police stormed a UN court, retaking it from Serbs who seized it on Friday.
Kosovo Serbs and Serbia have refused to recognise Kosovo's declaration of independence last month. Kosovo Serbs and Serbia refuse to recognise Kosovo's declaration of independence last month.
Several Serb protesters were reported to have been injured in clashes with the UN police outside the Mitrovica courthouse. The UN police arrested dozens of Serbs in the operation to retake the court, which is in a Serb-held part of the city. They also used tear gas to disperse Serbs who had gathered outside the building.
Several protesters were reported to have been injured in clashes with the UN police.
A UN convoy transporting those detained in the raid was then attacked, and some of the demonstrators managed to escape, Reuters reports.A UN convoy transporting those detained in the raid was then attacked, and some of the demonstrators managed to escape, Reuters reports.
Many of the protesters who seized the court last week are said to be former staff who lost their jobs in 1999 at the end of the war in Kosovo, when it came under UN administration.Many of the protesters who seized the court last week are said to be former staff who lost their jobs in 1999 at the end of the war in Kosovo, when it came under UN administration.
Serbs had staged rallies outside the building for several weeks, preventing ethnic Albanian court employees from crossing the bridge over the Ibar River that divides Mitrovica into a Serb-run north and an ethnic Albanian south.Serbs had staged rallies outside the building for several weeks, preventing ethnic Albanian court employees from crossing the bridge over the Ibar River that divides Mitrovica into a Serb-run north and an ethnic Albanian south.
Tension in the region has risen sharply since Kosovo declared independence on 17 February.Tension in the region has risen sharply since Kosovo declared independence on 17 February.
Last week, Serbs tried to take control of a railway line in the northern Kosovo.Last week, Serbs tried to take control of a railway line in the northern Kosovo.
In February, some 150 Kosovo Serb police officers were suspended for refusing to take orders from the ethnic Albanian authorities in Kosovo's capital, Pristina.In February, some 150 Kosovo Serb police officers were suspended for refusing to take orders from the ethnic Albanian authorities in Kosovo's capital, Pristina.
Most EU states and the US have recognised Pristina's unilateral declaration of independence.Most EU states and the US have recognised Pristina's unilateral declaration of independence.
Serbia - backed by its ally Russia - says the move is illegal.Serbia - backed by its ally Russia - says the move is illegal.