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| Kosovo clashes force UN pullout | Kosovo clashes force UN pullout |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| United Nations police in Kosovo have been forced to withdraw from Serb areas in the divided city of Mitrovica after clashes with Serb demonstrators. | United Nations police in Kosovo have been forced to withdraw from Serb areas in the divided city of Mitrovica after clashes with Serb demonstrators. |
| At least 22 UN police and two Nato troops were reported injured after a raid to retake a court seized by Serbs. | At least 22 UN police and two Nato troops were reported injured after a raid to retake a court seized by Serbs. |
| Troops used teargas as they faced gunfire, stones and petrol bombs. | Troops used teargas as they faced gunfire, stones and petrol bombs. |
| It is the worst violence since Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence last month. Kosovo Serbs and Serbia refuse to recognise its independence. | It is the worst violence since Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence last month. Kosovo Serbs and Serbia refuse to recognise its independence. |
| It also coincides with the fourth anniversary of a two-day episode of inter-ethnic violence in Mitrovica that left 31 people dead. | It also coincides with the fourth anniversary of a two-day episode of inter-ethnic violence in Mitrovica that left 31 people dead. |
| Protesters freed | Protesters freed |
| In Monday's clashes, UN and Nato vehicles were set alight as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the court. Three UN policemen and two Nato K-For soldiers were injured in an explosion, thought to have been caused by a hand grenade. | In Monday's clashes, UN and Nato vehicles were set alight as hundreds of protesters gathered outside the court. Three UN policemen and two Nato K-For soldiers were injured in an explosion, thought to have been caused by a hand grenade. |
| Several protesters have also been hurt. | Several protesters have also been hurt. |
| Earlier on Monday, some 100 UN police had arrested 53 Serbs in the operation to retake the UN court in a Serb-run part of the city. | Earlier on Monday, some 100 UN police had arrested 53 Serbs in the operation to retake the UN court in a Serb-run part of the city. |
| "We did not use any force, police did not use any force, because there was no need, there was no resistance from the other side," said Kosovo police spokesman Veton Elshani. | "We did not use any force, police did not use any force, because there was no need, there was no resistance from the other side," said Kosovo police spokesman Veton Elshani. |
| "Around 0700, 0730, there were about 200 to 300 citizens, protesters, that gathered in front of the municipal and district court in the vicinity and started to throw rocks and Molotov cocktails." | "Around 0700, 0730, there were about 200 to 300 citizens, protesters, that gathered in front of the municipal and district court in the vicinity and started to throw rocks and Molotov cocktails." |
| A UN convoy transporting those detained in the raid was then attacked, and some of the demonstrators managed to escape. | A UN convoy transporting those detained in the raid was then attacked, and some of the demonstrators managed to escape. |
| Rallies | Rallies |
| 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. |
| Kosovo Serbs are refusing to recognise Pristina's authority | |
| 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. | Tension in the region has risen sharply since Kosovo declared independence. |
| 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. |
| Are you in Mitrovica? Did you witness the protests? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | |
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