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Peacekeepers hurt in Kosovo blast Peacekeepers hurt in Kosovo blast
(10 minutes later)
Three UN policemen and two Nato troops have been injured in an explosion in northern Kosovo, local police said.Three UN policemen and two Nato troops have been injured in an explosion in northern Kosovo, local police said.
The blast occurred during clashes between UN riot police and Nato soldiers with Serb demonstrators in the divided city of Mitrovica.The blast occurred during clashes between UN riot police and Nato soldiers with Serb demonstrators in the divided city of Mitrovica.
It came after about 100 UN police stormed a UN court, retaking it from Serbs who seized it on Friday.It came after about 100 UN police stormed a UN court, retaking it from Serbs who seized it on Friday.
Kosovo Serbs and Serbia refuse to recognise Kosovo's declaration of independence last month.Kosovo Serbs and Serbia refuse to recognise Kosovo's declaration of independence last month.
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. Protesters freed
Several protesters were reported to have been injured in clashes with the UN police. "A blast occurred in northern Kosovo around 0810am (0710 GMT), injuring three UN policemen and two [Nato's] K-For soldiers," Kosovo's police said in a statement.
A UN convoy transporting those detained in the raid was then attacked, and some of the demonstrators managed to escape, Reuters reports. It did not provide any further details, but police spokesman Beshim Hoti was quoted by the AFP as saying he believed it was a hand grenade.
Earlier on Monday, UN police arrested more than 50 Serbs in the operation to retake the UN court, which is in a Serb-run part of the city.
They also used tear gas to disperse Serbs who had gathered outside the building.
At least one UN vehicle was set ablaze and several protesters were reported to have been injured in the clashes.
A UN convoy transporting those detained in the raid was then attacked, and some of the demonstrators managed to escape.
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.