Episodes occurred early this morning in northern Kosovo when police prevented employees of the local government, ethnic Serbs, from entering workplaces.

It was used in the city of Zvetsan tear gas to break up a gathering of Serbs who are protesting, in front of the town hall, about the occupation of the building by the police.

Tension also prevails in the other three municipalities (North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok) where the Serbian population is a majority. Units of the military police of the international force – KFOR with anti-demonstration equipment have been deployed between the demonstrators and the Kosovo police in order to prevent an escalation of tension. Serb political representatives say that “peaceful demonstrations will continue until the Kosovo police leave the municipal buildings.” The National Council of Serbs has decided that all schools in northern Kosovo will not be open today.

It is noted that last Friday, May 26 the Kosovo Police intervened in four cities in the north to break up rallies of the Serb population that were preventing newly elected mayors from taking office. These mayors were elected in the extraordinary municipal elections held on 23 April without the participation of Serbs. Voter turnout did not exceed 3.5% and the Serbian community in northern Kosovo considers invalid result.