Conflicts: After riots in northern Kosovo: new protests by Serbs

One day after the serious clashes between militant Serbs and the KFOR protection force that left around 80 injured on both sides, Serbs in northern Kosovo gathered again on Tuesday morning to protest. Demonstrators gathered in front of the municipal offices in Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok, which are being secured by NATO-led KFOR, the Kosovan news portal koha.net reported, citing its own reporters on site.

The clashes broke out in Zvecan on Monday afternoon when KFOR troops dispersed a violent crowd using tear gas. The militant Serbs threw incendiary devices, stones and bottles at the international security forces.

30 KFOR soldiers, including 19 Hungarians and 11 Italians, suffered injuries, including broken bones and burns, the protection force said in Pristina on Tuesday morning. “KFOR has (…) responded to unprovoked attacks by a violent and dangerous crowd,” the statement said. According to the hospital in the nearby town of Mitrovica, 53 Serbs were injured.

In the north of Kosovo, which is populated almost exclusively by Serbs, the local population is protesting against the appointment of new mayors, who emerged from last month’s elections and come from Albanian parties. The elections were boycotted by almost all Serbs.

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti blamed neighboring Serbia for the riots. Most of the demonstrators in the north are “a bunch of extremists under the guidance of the official Belgrade,” he said late Monday evening in a conversation with western ambassadors, according to his office.

Kosovo, which is now almost exclusively inhabited by Albanians, declared its independence in 2008. Serbia does not want to recognize the statehood of its former southern province.