Eight Austrian soldiers from the KFOR were injured in Kosovo, announced the headquarters of the Austrian operational forces in Graz.
The spokesman of the Austrian operational forces, Gunter Runderstaler, told the news agency APA that two soldiers were "severely injured" and that six of them received medical help in the infirmary.
According to Runderstaler, 20 KFOR soldiers were injured in clashes between Serbs and soldiers of international forces in Kosovo.
Runderstaler said that 2 soldiers were "severely injured" and that 6 of them received medical help in the infirmary.
KFOR previously announced that in the incidents that took place in the municipality of Zubin Potok, demonstrators used pyrotechnics and Molotov cocktails against KFOR soldiers and that several soldiers of international forces were injured.
The statement said that KFOR soldiers responded with non-lethal means, namely water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas.
KFOR: Demonstrators used fireworks and Molotov cocktails
KFOR announced that in the incidents that took place late in the afternoon in the municipality of Zubin Potok, demonstrators used fireworks and Molotov cocktails against KFOR soldiers and that several soldiers of international forces were injured.
The statement states that KFOR soldiers responded with non-lethal means, namely water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas. "The water cannons are still in place, and they were used to prevent further aggressive actions by the demonstrators against the KFOR soldiers," the international forces said.
Novicki confirmed that among the two peacekeepers who were wounded by firearms near the village of Jagnjenica was the commander of the battalion whose soldiers participated in the removal of the barricade
Kfor announced that the deputy commander of the German-Austrian operational reserve battalion spoke several times with the representative of the Zubin Potok municipality, in order to find a way to calm the situation.
According to the KFOR announcement, during the day, "violent individuals" attacked KFOR soldiers who were carrying out an operation to remove barricades from the road in the municipality of Zubin Potok, and on that occasion several KFOR soldiers were injured.
KFOR representative Uve Novicki confirmed to the Beta agency that among the two peacekeepers who were wounded by firearms near the village of Jagnjenica was the commander of the battalion whose soldiers participated in the removal of the barricade.
Novicki said that the injuries are not life-threatening and that the soldiers are receiving medical assistance.
"Any action that threatens a safe and secure environment is unacceptable and Kfor will take all appropriate measures to ensure the safety of all people in Kosovo," added Kfor.
The statement added that KFOR's mission is to contribute to the provision of a safe environment in Kosovo, which includes freedom of movement in accordance with its mandate under Security Council Resolution 1244.
Bogdanović: About 100 people were injured in the village of Jagnjenica
The Serbian Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanović announced that, according to the information he has, around 100 people were injured in clashes at the barricade in the village of Jagnjenica, on the Kosovska Mitrovica-Zubin Potok road.
Bogdanović said at the session of the Committee of the Assembly of Serbia for Kosovo and Metohija that there are nine injured Serbs in the hospital in Kosovska Mitrovica, one of whom is in intensive care.
The minister stated that the situation in the village is tense and uncertain, and that there are indications that it will worsen during the night.
"I'm afraid that the conflict will not escalate and that there will be unilateral moves at other barricades, because information was circulating that KFOR will also attack the miners," Bogdanović said.
"I am afraid that the unilateral actions of KFOR will not get out of control and that what happened will not continue during the night. I am afraid that the conflict will not escalate and that there will be unilateral actions at other barricades, because information was circulating that KFOR would also go to Miners," Bogdanovic said.
He assessed that the "international community" and KFOR are the most responsible for everything that happens in the north of Kosovo and that negotiations and the continuation of the dialogue in Brussels are the only way to solve the problems.
"There is enough conflict and friction. Problems should be solved through dialogue," said Bogdanović. According to him, the Government and the President of Serbia are in constant contact with KFOR, EULEX and the "international community" in order to solve the problems peacefully.
He stated that the latest events show "Kfor's clear intention to solve the problem by force, remove barricades and prevent citizens from peacefully expressing their legitimate position". Bogdanović said that KFOR used tear gas, shock bombs and rubber bullets in the conflict in the village of Jagnjenica.
Petković: Injuries from rubber bullets and tear gas
14 people injured in the clashes in Jagnjenica sought medical help at the Health Center in Kosovska Mitrovica by 15 p.m., reports KIM radio, noting that the injured are arriving at the hospital hour by hour.
The manager of the hospital, Dr. Milena Petković, notes that two people were seriously injured.
According to her, they are cared for in intensive care and their condition is being monitored.
"Those treated at the hospital have injuries from rubber bullets and tear gas," specified Petković.
According to her, two patients were kept in intensive care due to head injuries caused by rubber bullets, two more were in surgery, and the rest were undergoing diagnostics.
"Almost everyone contacted the eye department," added Petković.
The number of injured is changing, Petković noted, because the injured are arriving hour by hour.
Tadic for ending the conflict
"Kfor and Eulex are obliged by international acts to contribute their actions to calming the situation"
"I call on the officials of KFOR, EULEX and the political representatives of the Serbs to immediately calm the situation and ensure full freedom of movement exclusively through dialogue and without the use of violence. The lives of our citizens and members of international institutions must be preserved in every way," said Tadić.
In a statement delivered to the media, the President of Serbia emphasized that the escalation of the conflict calls into question the vital interest of Serbia, and all together moves away from the possibility of reaching a compromise and sustainable solution in Kosovo and Metohija.
"KFOR and EULEX are obliged by international acts to contribute their actions to calming the situation. The political leaders of the Serbs must prevent extremists who question the personal safety of our fellow citizens and international workers in Kosovo. The only way out of this and every crisis is peace, dialogue and problem solving. situation", stressed Tadić.
KFOR used tear gas and shock bombs on Serbs in Jagnjenica
KFOR soldiers near Jagnjenica called on the Serbs to disperse through megaphones, and occasionally threw stun grenades and tear gas at them. KFOR called on the demonstrators to disperse and warned that otherwise they would use "major force". However, the Serbs they did not disperse, so the situation was extremely tense. Among the demonstrators were all the presidents of the municipalities in the north of Kosovo and the head of the Kosovska Mitrovica district, Radenko Nedeljković, as well as the state secretary in the Ministry of Kosovo and Metohija, Oliver Ivanović. he was helped on the spot.
At the health center in Zvečan, the Beta agency was told that 30 to 50 Serbs were injured by rubber bullets, tear gas and shock bombs.
Barricade moved, soldier wounded
KFOR soldiers moved the barricade in the town of Jagnjenica, near Zubin Potok, in the north of Kosovo.
Witnesses say that they heard gunshots.
The barricade was placed on the Kosovska Mitrovica - Zubin Potok road.
German and Austrian KFOR soldiers removed the bus and trucks blocking the road with an armored vehicle. KFOR tried to disperse the gathered Serbs with tear gas. The siren sounded in Zubina Potok, and after that a large number of citizens headed towards the barricade.
During the action of KFOR, a burst of fire from an automatic weapon was heard, but it is not known who fired.
During the action of KFOR, a burst of fire from an automatic weapon was heard, but it is not known who fired
The representative of the KFOR unit in Jagnjenica, which removed the barricade in that place this morning, informed the president of the Zubin potok municipality that one of their members was wounded during that action.
KFOR announced over the loudspeaker that their commander had been shot at and warned the crowd that if the shooting happened again, they would respond.
KFOR spokesman Uve Novicki, however, said that there is no information that burst shots were heard during the action, that is, that soldiers were shot at.
The representative of KFOR demanded that the Serbs disperse
As reported by Tanjug's reporter from the scene, the KFOR representative asked the mayor of the municipality, Slavisa Ristić, to call the Serbs who had gathered at that place this morning to disperse.
Ristic was also told that KFOR intends to establish a checkpoint in Jagnjenica and that they expect the local population to remove the new barricade which, after the action of KFOR, they placed about 500 meters from the place where the previous barricade was removed this morning.
KFOR blocked the Zvečan-Zubin potok road with its vehicles.
During this morning's operation to break the blockade, KFOR soldiers used water cannons and tear gas to force the population to disperse.
Tear gas was also used
During the removal of the barricades in Jagnjenica, near Zubin Potok, KFOR used small amounts of tear gas, and there were no injuries among the soldiers, said KFOR spokesman Uve Novicki.
"KFOR used small amounts of tear gas to disperse the demonstrators who were throwing pyrotechnic devices at the soldiers," Novicki said.
"We are KFOR and we don't need any permission to remove barricades"
Novicki added that the action to remove the barricades in Jagnjenica was fully in accordance with the mandate of that mission and that it was carried out in order to provide a safe environment and freedom of movement.
"We are KFOR and we do not need any permission to remove barricades because our main task is to ensure freedom of movement," said Novicki.
Last week, representatives of the Serbs accused KFOR of starting to remove the barricades even though it was agreed at the meeting that there would be no unilateral moves.
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