Dozens of ethnic Albanians hold counter-protest against Serbs in Kosovo

By Eren Beksac and Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Dozens of ethnic Albanians on Thursday gathered in Kosovo's northern city of Mitrovica to demonstrate against rising tensions in the Balkan nation.

At least 100 Albanians gathered on the main bridge over the Ibre River that separates the Albanian and Serb-populated parts of the city.

They unfurled Kosovo and Albanian flags, and chanted slogans in favor of the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) and against Serbia.

Egzon Islam, a protestor, told Anadolu that they had gathered to express their anger at the events in the north of Kosovo. Islam said that the problem in the north of Kosovo is more about politics and can be solved with talks.

Security around the bridge has been increased by the Kosovo police and NATO's Peacekeeping Force in Kosovo (KFOR) units.

Twenty-four years after the end of the war in Kosovo and 15 years after the declaration of independence, Mitrovica, where Albanians live in the south and Serbs in the north, remains a "divided city."

The main bridge over the Ibre River divides the city into two parts, south and north. It is closed to vehicular traffic and can only be crossed by pedestrians.

Tensions have gripped Kosovo as Serbs protested the election of ethnic Albanian mayors in four municipalities last month in the country's northern municipalities.

Serbs have been protesting outside these municipalities since Monday when the mayors took their oaths and began their official duties.

On Monday, at least 30 soldiers of the NATO-led international peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR) were injured in clashes with Serbs who were protesting and attempting to prevent the newly-elected mayor of Zvecan municipality in northern Kosovo from entering the town hall to take the oath of office and begin official responsibilities.