KFOR Increases Troops on Bridge over Ibar

Members of KFOR in Leposavic (BETAPHOTO/SASA DJORDJEVIC)

An increased presence of KFOR members, Italian carabinieri, was observed on the main bridge over the Ibar River in Kosovska Mitrovica on Aug. 31, the media in Pristina reported from the scene.

Koha.net did not receive a response from KFOR as to why the number of troops had increased, while Kosovo police said an exercise was taking place. On Aug. 30, Kosovo police closed five Serbian interim institution offices in northern Kosovo municipalities, a move that has been condemned by the international community.

The U.S., the European Union, the United Kingdom, Germany and France and other actors have voiced concern and disappointment with the move, calling it an uncoordinated action by the Kosovo government. The Ibar bridge has been a "hot topic" for months after the government insisted on opening it and the international community made it known it would not support such an action.

Although the opening of the bridge has been announced multiple times, neither Kosovo Premier Albin Kurti nor other Kosovo officials have mentioned any date for when that might happen.