SITUATION IN KOSOVO RELATIVELY CALM; 17 KILLED, MORE THAN 600 WOUNDED IN INCIDENTS

PRISTINA, March 18 (Hina) - The situation in Kosovo was relatively calm but still tense on Thursday morning, one day after the eruption of violent conflicts which have spread to most parts of the province. At least 17 people were killed and more than 600 were injured in the clashes.#L# During the day, the Kosovo ministry of health is expected to release information on the number of the killed and wounded. The latest statement, which was published after midnight last night, reads that 17 people were killed and more than 600 were seriously or lightly injured throughout Kosovo in the last 24 hours. The conflicts erupted after Albanians staged a protest rally because of an incident which happened in the village of Qaber near Kosovska Mitrovica, when three Albanian boys drowned in the Ibar river. According to Albanian sources, the boys jumped into the river while trying to escape from Serbs who were chasing them. Only one boy survived. The situation in Pristina, which was very tense until midnight, has calmed down. A number of vehicles of international police forces were burned in the incidents and a building where a group of Serbs was living was stoned. The Serbs were evacuated to the Serb enclave of Gracanica after the incident. No incidents were reported, but the situation was still tense last night in Kosovska Mitrovica, which was placed under curfew. No incidents were reported in surrounding areas either, the UN police reported. There will be no school classes until further notice and the curfew will remain in force until the situation improves, it was stated. The situation was also difficult in Prizren, Gnjilane, Urosevac, Kosovo Polje and Pec yesterday. Several Serb Orthodox churches were burned in the areas. Television Kosova reported this morning that the road Pristina-Skoplje near the Serb enclave of Caglavice is still blocked, with strong presence of international peace forces in the village. (Hina) rml