KFOR PEACEKEEPERS GUARD TOWN HALL IN LEPOSAVIC WHERE MAYOR IS SHELTERED – Thirty NATO peacekeepers and 52 Serbs were injured in clashes
Calm remains in the northern Kosovo town of Leposavic, a week after tensions spiralled into violence when ethnic Albanian mayors took office in Serb-majority municipalities.
The majority Serb population boycotted local elections in April, resulting in the mayors being elected with a turnout of less than 4%.
KFOR peacekeepers are guarding the city’s town hall, where the elected mayor, an ethnic Albanian, is sheltered.
Thirty NATO peacekeepers and 52 Serbs were injured in clashes on May 29, prompting NATO to announce the deployment of additional troops, in addition to the 700 already on their way to the Balkan country, to strengthen its 4,000-strong mission.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s decision to install the new mayors was criticized by the U.S. and its allies.
The White House stated on June 2 that a senior aide to U.S. President Joe Biden had spoken to Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, expressing concern about the situation and urging all parties to reduce conflict.
Kosovo declared independence nearly a decade after a NATO bombing drove out Serb police and army forces from its former province.
Serbia and approximately 50,000 Serbs in north Kosovo do not recognize Pristina and consider Kosovo to be part of Serbia.