KOSOVO: SERBIAN PROTESTS IN MITROVICA UPDATE

Описание: (19 Jul 2000) Natural Sound
XFA
NATO troops increased their presence on the Serb-controlled side of the divided Kosovo city of Mitrovica, as protesters vowed to continue their demonstrations until a Serb accused of harassing ethnic Albanians is released.

About 300 protesters gathered for a third day to press for the release of 24-year-old Dalibor Vukovic.

Vukovic, a member of a group of militants who screen those entering the Serb-controlled part of Mitrovica, was arrested by U-N police on Monday night.

His arrest sparked days of unrest in the ethnically divided northern city.

Late on Tuesday, a group of 20 Serbs barged into the apartment of two U-N police officers, threatened them and forced them to hand over their pistols and a radio.

Staff at the U-N courthouse in northern Kosovska Mitrovica were evacuated after midnight on Tuesday by NATO and U-N security officers.

The 145 U-N police stationed in Mitrovica - out of a total 550 who are based in the area around the city - are on now on standby either in the police station or their accommodations.

Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic insisted Vukovic's crime was not serious enough to merit arrest and maintained that U-N police were creating more trouble by failing to release Vukovic.

Meanwhile, French Special Force troops have been preparing for an escalation of violence.

Another protest is scheduled for Wednesday evening.

SOUNDBITE (Serbian):
"We have only one demand: Dalibor Vukovic must be released from police custody as of now."
SUPER CAPTION: Nikola Kabasic, Serb National Council (SNC) spokesman

SOUNDBITE (English):
"Dalibor Vukovic is not released yet, and we will continue with our protest meetings until the day he's released. He is not guilty, and even he is guilty it is ridiculous for the police to arrest someone for harassment,"
SUPER CAPTION:Oliver Ivanovic, local Serb leader

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