NATO Beefs Up Forces in Kosovo After 17 Die in Ethnic Riots

American Forces Press Service ^ | March 18, 2004 | By Jim Garamone

[Calpernia]

Seventeen Kosovars have been killed in the worst outbreak of ethnic violence in that province since NATO forces arrived in 1999, NATO officials said.

A company of U.S. soldiers now assigned to the stabilization force in Bosnia is moving to Kosovo to beef up NATO forces in the area. Another two companies are standing by, said a NATO spokesman.

Six people were killed in Mitrovica, three in Lipljan, three in Caglavica, two in Urosevac, one in Pec, one in Gnjilane and one in the Kosovar capital of Pristina. The rioting reportedly began in Mitrovica, when ethnic Albanians gathered to protest the drowning of three ethnic Albanian boys Tuesday. A survivor said Serbs had chased the boys into the river.

Rioting quickly spread to other cities in Kosovo and to the Serb capital of Belgrade. News reports said more than 300 people were injured in the clashes.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer condemned the attacks and expressed concern for French peacekeepers in the country, some of whom were seriously injured in the rioting.

"A special duty also falls on the political leaders of all ethnic communities in Kosovo to stop the spiral of senseless violence, Scheffer said during a speech in Prague, Czech Republic. "I have called on all concerned, both in Belgrade and Pristina, to do the utmost to prevent further escalation. All ethnic communities must act with calm and restraint."

Army Brig. Gen. Rick Erlandson, commander of the Multinational Brigade East at Camp Bondsteel, called the rioting reprehensible. "My soldiers will immediately and forcefully stop anyone who violates the rule of law," Erlandson said in a statement. "Our actions have always been founded on the spirit of impartiality, and we will react to any group that stands out as they did yesterday."

Scheffer said only extremists can gain from continued violence.

[Calpernia]

Pro Military, Pro Multinational Brigade News!

Army Brig. Gen. Rick Erlandson, commander of the Multinational Brigade East at Camp Bondsteel, called the rioting reprehensible. "My soldiers will immediately and forcefully stop anyone who violates the rule of law," Erlandson said in a statement. "Our actions have always been founded on the spirit of impartiality, and we will react to any group that stands out as they did yesterday."

Private Mail to be added to or removed from the GNFI (or Pro-Coalition) ping list.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[ma bell]

This is when I was in Kosovo last August, and the location of the UNMIK ambush by Albanians.

This is on top of the mountain while in a hide position overlooking an Albanian village. Two klicks south of the UNMIK scene. Half-way back down towards the main road from Leposavic-Kos Mitrovica, I discovered a hide position. This hide position was freshly made, grass was still trampled as it was obvious a person was lying down in ti. There were two apple juice cartons with Albanian lettering. Cover/Concealment was not bad, but the escape route was the best in the area.

This is the Southside Kosovo Mitrovica(Albanian section).

This is I, straddling the Ibar River, that seperates the Albanians from the Serbs in Kosovo Mitrovica.

Down the street, about 250 meters, I was chased by 3 Albanians who had a pick and an axe. German KFOR stood by and looked at the foot race go by their checkpoint.

the Ibar rossing

This is in a hide position, as we were observing at movement down below.

[blackie]

Are we still in Kosovo ~ Klintoon said we would be out of there in six weeks. :)

[baseballmom]

Great pictures. Are/were you a soldier in Kosovo?

Scary story about being chased by Albanians. Stay safe.

[wtc911]

I've been to both Pic and Pristina w/KFOR doing research. A good friend who's a Ssgt w/ 1/187 and spent time in the 'vo swears they can't wait to get back to the killing. I gotta agree.

[Redmen4ever]

Where have I heard this before ... the French army comes under attack, and the Americans are called to the rescue?

Howzabout we release the 1300 Spanish soldiers from Iraq early, so they can bail out the French? Or, are they all just a bunch of Euroweenies?

[FormerLib]

The rioting reportedly began in Mitrovica, when ethnic Albanians gathered to protest the drowning of three ethnic Albanian boys Tuesday. A survivor said Serbs had chased the boys into the river.

This was disproved by additional statements made by UN officials who investigated the incident yet the media keeps including it anyway.

Gee, I wonder why? Are they still convering for Kaiser Willie?

[Calpernia]

bump!

[FormerLib]

Thanks for posting those pics!

[Alamo-Girl]

I like your idea of the Spaniards defending the French. That is quite a mental picture!

[monday]

An acquaintance of mine returned from Metrovica last year and said that the difference between the North (Serb) side of the Ibor and the South (Albanian) was pronounced. He also said that KFOR personel secretly agreed with the Serbs in their assessment of the Albanians as cockroaches.

Except for the bombed out buildings next to the river the south side of Ibor appears fairly prosperous judging from your photo. What are living conditions in the area? I was imagining 2nd or 3rd world but your photos seem to show a fairly prosperous area?

[ma bell]

The southside is wonderful compared to the northside/Serbs. The KFOR said the same in our conversations. Nobody likes the Albanians, not even the Albanians.

[ma bell]

I was a U.S Marine, but I have gone back in as an Army Reservist. A unit I could have gone into was to have been rotated back to Kosovo end of August, but I chose another unit. I have friends in Kos Mitrovica who could identify me and I wouldnt allow them to compromise unit security and integrity.

They would try to turn me or mark me as a traitor. Sorry, but am an American first and am loyal to unit first before anything.

It would have been great to go there and be a peacemaker and already know who the good and bad guys are immediately from firsthand experience.

But, I am returning back to Bosna-Serbia/Kosovo again this summer for my bike fundraiser ride.

[Truth666]

Kosovo bill so far : $12 billion

[LRoggy]

Sounds more and more like a quagmire! Deaths still occurring? After how many years? We are not doing enough to fight the terror in the Balkans!

Oops, that was a Democratic initiative. . . - John Kerry about to speak to the Harvard ROTC.

[Truth666]

March 24, 1999 - the day that sealed the destiny of the sheeple

http://www.sramota.com/nato/

[PhilDragoo]

Kosovo, another stunning Clinton victory after Mogadishu, Haiti, North Korea, Bosnia, Liberia.

But traitorrapist42 needed a distraction from the just-over impeachment and the about-to-explode Cox Report on Chicom techschlep.

Voila wag the Kosovo.

As a plus, traitorrapist42 earned brownie points with EUnuchs and UNuchs, depleted our arsenal, gave Russia an F-117.

Weasel Clark got to take out some dangerous refugee tractor convoys and just missed starting WWIII at Pristina.

Kosovo: now that's a quagmire--and there weren't any wmds nor UN mandate.

Want more? Vote Kerry: Letting Foreigners Run the Country--the Ultimate in Outsourcing.