KFOR:  Criminal Groups behind Serb Protesters

KFOR soldiers in Zvecan (BETAPHOTO/SASA DJORDJEVIC)

KFOR spokesman Andrea Gallieni said on June 9 that it was clear that criminal groups were behind Serb protesters in northern Kosovo and that they had attempted to attack KFOR troops.

Col. Gallieni said dozens of KFOR soldiers were injured during protests in Zvecan. He said additional KFOR troops had been deployed in northern Kosovo as of May 29, after four municipal heads, according to him, attempted to enter their offices by force.

"KFOR was there to prevent an escalation of the protest. During the protest in Zvecan, soldiers were injured with stones, improvised explosives and firearms. It was clear that the people were trying to protest peacefully, but it was clear that criminal groups were hiding behind them and trying to attack the KFOR troops," the Kossev website quoted Gallieni as saying.

According to him, it is the duty of Kosovo police to find and apprehend these groups. "It was clear that the citizens wanted peaceful protests, but organized groups hid behind them to attack KFOR and it is the primary duty of Kosovo police to take the necessary measures to find these groups," Gallieni said.