Kosovar protection force KFOR breaks up Serbian protests in the north Children in Texas learn from a Winnie-the-Pooh book how to save themselves from disaster

The NATO-led security force KFOR has violently dispersed a protest by militant Serbs against new mayors in northern Kosovo. The soldiers used stun grenades and tear gas in front of the municipal office in the village of Zvecan on Monday afternoon. The mob in turn threw stones, bottles and other objects at them, local media reported. A Serb was injured by gunfire, the hospital in the nearby town of Mitrovica said. According to eyewitnesses, other Serbs suffered minor injuries in the clashes.

On Monday morning, about 300 KFOR soldiers in combat gear took up positions in front of the municipal office in Zvecan, a reporter from the German news agency on site reported. At the same time, a large number of Serb demonstrators had gathered in front of the official building. The KFOR troops should be protecting the office building instead of the Kosovo special police. He had been given access to the city office last Friday, which had already led to violent protests by militant Serbs.

The police had escorted the new mayor, an Albanian who wanted to take office. Serbs are also protesting in two other places in northern Kosovo, where Albanian mayors have also taken over. The three were elected in April, with almost all Serbs boycotting the election. That is why the election winners come from Albanian parties. The previous Serbian mayors resigned from their positions in November 2022 in protest against the Kosovo government’s policies.

The escalation came on Monday when the Serb mob in Zvecan refused to let Kosovar police vehicles still parked there drive away. The KFOR team then broke off the meeting. (sda/dpa)