Posted on 04/08/2002 5:27:04 PM PDT by Spar
Rioting Serbs Wound U.N. Police
Mon Apr 8, 4:21 PM ET
UN policemen take cover during clashes in the northern part of the divided Kosovo town of Kosovska Mitrovica on Monday, April 8, 2002. Hundreds of Serbs clashed with UN police after the arrest of Slavoljub Jovic-Pagi, a leader of a hardline group known as the "bridge guards," said Marko Jaksic, a leader in the Mitrovica Serb community. At least 14 people were wounded, one seriously. (AP Photo/Miodrag Draskic)
By GARENTINA KRAJA, Associated Press Writer
KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, Yugoslavia (AP) - Nineteen U.N. police officers were wounded Monday when they tried to quell a riot by hundreds of Serbs in this ethnically divided Kosovo town, a U.N. spokesman said.
One officer was in serious condition, said Stefan Feller, the commander of United Nations (news - web sites) police in Kosovo. The clash was the most serious incident in months in the troubled town.
The rioting began when U.N. police arrested Slavoljub Jovic-Pagi, a leader of a hard-line group known as the "bridge guards," said Marko Jaksic, a Serb community leader.
The "bridge guards" have previously tried to prevent ethnic Albanians and Serbs from crossing a bridge that divides Kosovska Mitrovica between the two rival ethnic communities.
John Neil, the head of U.N. police in the town, said a crowd formed when U.N. police set up a checkpoint for vehicles in the Serb part of the town and that some people began throwing stones at the officers.
Neil said one Serb was arrested because he was throwing stones and telling others to do so.
U.N. police commanders said they called for assistance as the crowd began rioting. During the confrontation, two hand grenades were thrown at U.N. police. Neil said police came under fire by two gunmen and returned fire in self-defense.
"With the angry crowd throwing stones at the U.N. police, it all escalated into a riot with gunfire and explosions directed at U.N. police officers," U.N. police spokesman Barry Fletcher said.
Jaksic, the Serb community leader, said two civilians suffered wounds from bullets "apparently fired by riot police." One was in critical condition with a gunshot wound in the neck, he said.
U.N. police commanders said they could not confirm there were casualties among the Serbs.
Jaksic, a hospital director, said at least at least 10 other people "with light injuries and suffocation symptoms" were admitted to his hospital.
U.N. police and NATO (news - web sites) troops were blocking the bridge separating the ethnic Albanian and the Serb parts of the city. Armored vehicles carrying police officers in riot gear were lined up on the Ibar River's southern, ethnic Albanian side.
U.N. police officer is indicted for murder and theft in Kosovo
Mon Apr 8, 9:21 AM ET
PRISTINA, Yugoslavia - A U.N. police officer has been indicted by a local court in Kosovo on charges of murdering an ethnic Albanian woman and theft, a U.N. official said Monday.
Sherif Abd Elaziz, 32, from Egypt, was indicted after spending three months in police custody on suspicion he shot to death an ethnic Albanian woman in January, said Andrea Angeli of the U.N. mission in the province.
The murder is believed to have been motivated by a personal dispute, Angeli said.
The victim — identified as Vlora Berbati, 23 — worked as a translator for the U.N. police in the town of Pec, some 90 kilometers (55 miles) west of the provincial capital Pristina.
She was found in the officer's apartment with serious injuries and later died in a hospital. The 32-year-old Egyptian officer had bullet wounds in his arm and hand that authorities allege were self inflicted.
Under an agreement between U.N. and Austrian authorities, the indicted officer was transported Monday to an Austrian hospital to undergo surgery and was expected to complete his recovery in an Austrian prison before returning to Kosovo to stand trial, Angeli said.
Abd Elaziz is the first international police officer facing trial for a serious crime by the U.N.-run local courts in the province. His immunity was waived by the United Nations (news - web sites) when he was arrested in January.
Kosovo, a Yugoslav province, has been administered by the United Nations since a 78-day air war in June 1999 forced an end to former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic (news - web sites)'s campaign of repression against the ethnic Albanian majority.
The U.N. police force in Kosovo includes 4,450 international police officers.
I did that service to give back to my country the USA. I did that for the good of the Serb people. I did that becuase I have compassion for others, even my "enemy". I would even give you food and shelter if you needed it. I can assume you are the opposite.
I don't know about him,but I don't mind telling you that *I* didn't know this. I'd like to hear more,though. What units did you train,and what were some of the names of the people you trained? Where and when did this training happen,and how did it come about that you were contacted by the US Army?
LBJ was president during part of my first enlistment,does this make me a "lefty pinkp",too?
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