NEW VICTIMS REPORTED IN KOSOVO

PRISTINA, Jan 2 (Hina) - The mutilated bodies of two Serbs from the municipality of Kosovska Mitrovica, who had gone missing two days ago, were found on Saturday in the village of Tamnik in the same municipality, the pro-government Media Centre in Pristina reported on Saturday. According to their family members, the two men, Gojko Jeftic (aged 50) and Drago Kovacevic (aged 48), left their homes two days ago and there was no trace of them until today. The Verification Mission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Kosovo was informed of the murder and carried out an on-the-spot investigation. The Media Centre also reported that the body of Veton Keljmendi (aged 30) was found near the village of Galvicice, on the Pec- Pristina road. An investigation has proved that Keljmendi had been killed by a shot to his head, but no further details have been made known. The Serbian authorities have accused the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) of the killing. KLA members allegedly threatened Keljmendi's family. The Kosovo Committee for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms reported that 1,920 Albanians were killed last year in Kosovo conflicts. The last six Serbs from the villages of Lapashtica and Obranqe in the Podujevo municipality were escorted by OSCE verifiers to Podujevo and handed over to Serbian authorities. The men claimed to have been threatened by the KLA. There are no more Serb residents left in Lapashtica and Obranqe, the Media Centre reported. International monitors in Kosovo reported that the KLA has released three Albanians and a Serb. Today's reports from the province were confirmed by OSCE verifiers. (hina) rml