PRISTINA, Aug 20 (Hina) - Several thousand citizens rallied on Tuesday afternoon in the Kosovo town of Prizren, protesting against the arrest of some former commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The protesters voiced support
for the stands of the Kosovo government which yesterday said in a statement that the arrests were politically motivated.
PRISTINA, Aug 20 (Hina) - Several thousand citizens rallied on
Tuesday afternoon in the Kosovo town of Prizren, protesting against
the arrest of some former commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army
(KLA). The protesters voiced support for the stands of the Kosovo
government which yesterday said in a statement that the arrests
were politically motivated. #L#
Despite claims by the international civil mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
that the latest arrests of former KLA fighters included persons
suspected of serious crimes, the protests of Kosovo Albanians are
not abating. A mass gathering has been announced for Friday in
Pristina.
One of the organisers of the protests, Agim Muqa, a member of a KLA
association, requested that the UNMIK immediately discontinue the
arrests and release all who had been arrested on the basis of what he
said were rigged indictments.
In the meantime, Kosovo Premier Bajram Rexhepi said in Pristina
today his government was oriented towards resolving problems
through institutions.
UNMIK spokeswoman Susan Manuel said today the latest arrests in
Kosovo had been carried out in line with the law, following a
thorough investigation which the police started back in 1999, as
well as in line with all existing laws.
Manuel added that justice and judiciary were not within the
jurisdiction of the Kosovo government but the UN and NATO forces in
Kosovo and that the Kosovo judiciary had the full mandate to
investigate all crimes committed in Kosovo before, during and after
the war.
She dismissed claims that the arrests were politically motivated.
(hina) rml sb