PRISTINA, June 19 (Hina) - The commander of the international force for Kosovo (KFOR), British General Mike Jackson, on Saturday said he hoped the withdrawal of Serbian forces from Kosovo would be completed even 24 hours before the
deadline set for tomorrow (June 20). The deployment of British troops in Podujevo before the deadline also reflects the intention of KFOR to use every chance for speeding up the pull-out of Serbian forces from Kosovo, Jackson said adding that KFOR and Serbs have so far cooperated well. Despite KFOR calls on local Serbs to remain in Kosovo where it guarantees their safety and security, Serbs are still leaving this area. According to unofficial data, almost 50,000 Serbs have fled Kosovo. Albanian sources reported that at least 60,000 ethnic Albanians have returned to Kosovo since the deployment of international troops. Fighters of Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) cannot move in the sout
PRISTINA, June 19 (Hina) - The commander of the international force
for Kosovo (KFOR), British General Mike Jackson, on Saturday said
he hoped the withdrawal of Serbian forces from Kosovo would be
completed even 24 hours before the deadline set for tomorrow (June
20).
The deployment of British troops in Podujevo before the deadline
also reflects the intention of KFOR to use every chance for speeding
up the pull-out of Serbian forces from Kosovo, Jackson said adding
that KFOR and Serbs have so far cooperated well.
Despite KFOR calls on local Serbs to remain in Kosovo where it
guarantees their safety and security, Serbs are still leaving this
area.
According to unofficial data, almost 50,000 Serbs have fled
Kosovo.
Albanian sources reported that at least 60,000 ethnic Albanians
have returned to Kosovo since the deployment of international
troops.
Fighters of Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) cannot move in the south-
western town of Prizren as of Saturday (June 19). German KFOR forces
ordered them to move from the town at least two (2) kilometres away
as well as to lay down arms.
Only police will be allowed to walk through Prizren. The
transformation of the KLA has thus practically started and some KLA
troops are to become policemen.
KLA leaders in Prizren have not yet officially responded to this
order. The KLA headquarters has recently considered these issues,
and KLA Operative Zone Prizren representatives discussed the
matter with Germans on Thursday evening. Conclusions of the talks
have not been revealed so far.
Prizren was the first town where KLA assumed control taking over
strategic positions.
On Friday, German troops released 15 non-Albanians from the prison
in that town. They were arrested by the KLA that accused them of
cooperating with the Serbian regime. According to the German KFOR
command, the arrested people were abused and one of them died in
prison. The KLA claimed the death of the apprehended man had natural
causes.
It is expected that in the two coming days, the KLA and
international forces will sign an agreement on the transformation
and disarmament of the Kosovo Liberation Army.
(hina) ms