ARMED ALBANIANS FROM SOUTHERN SERBIA SURRENDER TO KFOR

PRISTINA, May 23 (Hina) - Over 300 members of the Liberation Army of Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac (southern Serbia populated by ethnic Albanians) have surrendered to the international peace troops in Kosovo (KFOR) since 16 May, the KFOR stated in Pristina on Wednesday. They turned themselves in to peace-keepers after KFOR Commander, Norwegian General Thorstein Skiaker promised to grant amnesty for Albanian guerrillas who had not committed serious crimes. KFOR officials denied allegations that they had arrested one of chief commanders of armed ethnic Albanians in southern Serbia (OVPMB), Muhamet Xhemail. One of the leaders of OVPMB, Ridvan Qazimi alias Commander Leshi, was quoted by today's press in Kosovo as saying that for the two years, OVPMB, succeeded in showing to the world that Presevo, Medveda and Bujanovac were Albanian areas. He warned that the OVPMB would again protect the Albanian population in southern Serbia if Belgrade tried to threaten to Albanian or breach international agreements. Qazimi said that as of June OVPMB troops would be integrated into multi-ethnic local police forces and in civilian life. (hina) ms