SERBIA:HUNDREDS OF Serbs stormed and occupied a United Nations courthouse in the flashpoint Kosovo town of Mitrovica yesterday, just days after international warnings to Kosovo Serbs and to Belgrade to stop disrupting the running of the newly independent state.
Police serving with UNMIK, the UN mission in Kosovo, quickly retreated as at least 200 Serbs burst through gates and poured into the courthouse, which has been a focus for Serb protests since Kosovo's ethnic-Albanian leaders declared independence last month.
They quickly tore a UN plaque off the wall and replaced the UN flag with the Serb banner, in an embarrassing security breach for international forces in Kosovo. The event took place just hours before a visit to the fledgling state by Nato chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
"Those who turned to violence in north Mitrovica have crossed one of UNMIK's red lines. This is completely unacceptable," said the leader of the UN mission, Joachim Ruecker.
"I have instructed UNMIK police to restore law and order in the north and to ensure that the courthouse is again under UN control."
Riot police were standing by near the courthouse and Mr Ruecker was reportedly negotiating with Serb officials to end the stand-off, which cranked up tension in ethnically divided Mitrovica, a town where Serbs and Albanians have often clashed.
"We tried to negotiate, but no one wanted to talk to us," said Miodrag Ralic, one of the leaders of the protest. "We could not wait any longer."
Nebojsa Jovic, another Kosovo Serb leader, said: "We have nothing against international judges.
"We want to co-operate with all non-Albanians and all those who do not recognise independent Kosovo."
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