PRISTINA/KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, March 20 (Hina) - The situation was slowly going back to normal in Kosovska Mitrovca, the second largest city in Kosovo, which is divided into the Serb-populated northern part and Albanian-populated
southern part.
PRISTINA/KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, March 20 (Hina) - The situation was slowly
going back to normal in Kosovska Mitrovca, the second largest city in
Kosovo, which is divided into the Serb-populated northern part and
Albanian-populated southern part.#L#
Special police troops and KFOR soldiers in full battle kit were
deployed beside the bridge across the Ibar river dividing the city
into the two parts. A curfew was still in force in that area on
Saturday.
Reports given by a local committee for human rights and freedoms that
a leading human rights activist, Halit Berani, was was arrested by
KFOR in Saturday while he was in his office, caused disturbance among
citizens Albanian background in Kosovksa Mitrovica.
International sources that spoke on condition of anonymity said that
KFOR and UN police suspected Berani of being involved in violence
which erupted in the city earlier this week. There is still no
official statement on reasons for Berani's arrest.
In the village of Qaber, divers continued a search for the third boy
who drowned in the Ibar while trying to escape from Serbs who were
chasing him and another three Albanians boys. The three drowned and
one survived. This tragic event at the beginning of this week
triggered off a wave of riots throughout Kosovo. So far, the two
bodies have been found, and the funeral of those two boys is scheduled
for Sunday. High international and Kosovo officials are expected to
come to the funeral.
Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova proclaimed Monday (22 March) a day of
mourning for all victims of the recent riots.
According to fresh reports of the UNMIK (UN mission in Kosovo), 28
persons were killed and almost 600 were wounded in the violence.
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