EU police use tear gas on Serbs

European Union police used tear gas today to disperse about 100 Serbs protesting the return of Albanian refugees in the tense…

European Union police used tear gas today to disperse about 100 Serbs protesting the return of Albanian refugees in the tense northern part of the country, a spokesman said.

Hundreds of Kosovo Serbs have staged rallies in recent days against building seven destroyed houses belonging to Albanian returnees near the flashpoint town of Mitrovica.

"We have used tear gas to disperse some protesters," said Christophe Lamfalussy, spokesman from the EU police and justice mission (EULEX). "When there is violence or people trying to cross the Kosovo police line then EULEX is going to intervene."

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but the 120,000 remaining Kosovo Serbs have refused to cooperate with Albanian-run institutions.

Reuters