Kosovo Police Withdraw After Clashes with Serbs, Says Serbian President

The special forces of the unrecognized Kosovo police have withdrawn from the northern Serbian-populated region of the country following clashes with the Serbian population on Tuesday. This was announced by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić during a press conference after the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tirana, as reported by TASS.

“The incidents occurred in Zubin Potok and Kosovska Mitrovica. I have information that it is peaceful there now, and I am waiting for a report from the clinical center in Kosovska Mitrovica. According to the Brussels agreements, the Kosovo police can only enter the northern region with the consent of four mayors, but none of the four mayors were consulted. They tried to invade municipal electoral commissions, to seize buildings, and the people were outraged, leading to minor clashes, as I understand it, after which the Kosovo police forces retreated. Before the press conference, I received information that it is peaceful there, and I hope it will remain so,” said Vučić.

It is worth noting that explosions have been heard in northern unrecognized Kosovo. As reported by the Anna News Telegram channel, an air raid alert is sounding in Kosovska Mitrovica city. Local media reports indicate that Kosovo's special forces have entered an area that was used by the Electoral Commission during the previous elections. Prior to this, police had entered the building of the municipality in the town of Zubin Potok in northern Kosovo. Furthermore, according to the agreements, Kosovo's special forces should not be deployed in the unrecognized state’s north without the sanction of the commander of the international KFOR forces.