Unknown attackers shot dead two Kosovo Albanians linked to a moderate local political leader in the province on Friday evening, the UN and the politician's party said today.
UN spokesman Mr Dean Olson said one of the victims in the drive-by shooting was journalist Mr Bekim Kastrati, who worked for Geneva-based daily
Bota Sot
.
The daily is seen as close to the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), a leading ethnic Albanian party headed by moderate Mr Ibrahim Rugova.
Mr Olson named the second person killed in the attack, at around 8 p.m. (7 p.m. Irish time), as Mr Besim Dajaku and the LDK said he was one of Mr Rugova's bodyguards.
Mr Olson said the attackers pulled alongside the vehicle carrying the victims near the town of Srbica, northwest of the provincial capital Pristina, and opened fire.
"It appears about 39 rounds (were) fired. There are two victims confirmed dead," he said.
A third man was injured in the shooting. He was identified as Mr Gani Geci, a former member of the guerrilla Kosovo Liberation Army which fought Serb forces in the southern Yugoslav province in 1998-99 and disbanded after the conflict.
Mr Olson said the motive for the killing was not yet known.