NEW CLASHES & MORE THAN 10 VICTIMS ON BOTH SIDES IN KOSOVO

( Editorial: --> 2878 ) PRISTINA, 10 Aug (Hina) - Albanian and Serbian sources in Pristina reported new clashes and victims in Kosovo on Monday. The Kosovo Information Centre reported fierce fighting in villages along the Djakovica-Decani road. The pro-government Media Centre in Pristina reported that four Serbian police officers were killed Sunday in clashes near Prilepa, on the Djakovica-Decani road, while two other policemen were wounded. The number of police officers killed in Kosovo operations is now 40. AFP reported today that the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) had returned the village of Likovac under their control. Serbian forces had seized the village last Thursday. Clashes were also reported in another three villages in the Djakovica municipality. The fiercest fighting was reported in Herece, near Djakovica, where four Albanians were killed and several were wounded. Almost all houses in Herece have been burnt down. There are casualties and losses in weapons on the Serbian side as well, but no details were given. Meanwhile, strong clashes continued in western Kosovo, where the Yugoslav Army today gave an ultimatum to Albanians in the village of Skivjane, near Djakovica, to surrender their weapons or leave the village. Almost 15,000 residents of villages between Decani and Djakovica, which are caught in the fighting, have left their homes. Albanian sources from Djakovica have reported clashes in the areas bordering with Albania, especially near the largest Kosovo village of Junika, which is believed to be the KLA stronghold . Albanians are offering strong resistance to Serbian forces, causing considerable losses on the Serbian side, the Kosovo Information Centre reported. Three KLA soldiers were killed in this morning's clash in the village of Duraj, on the Urosevac-Strpce road. The Kosovo Democratic Alliance today reported that armed Serb civilians in Priluzhe and Plemetina near Vucitrn have been attacking four villages in this municipality since last night. Serbian forces have also started shelling Albanian villages in Kotlina Cernoljevo, which has the important Pristina-Shtimlje- Prizren road running through it. The road has been closed for several months. (hina) rml /mbr 101641 MET aug 98