Thirty members of the NATO-led peacekeeping force KFOR were injured during clashes with ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo on May 29 after they attempted to occupy the municipal headquarters in Zvecan, where an ethnic Albanian mayor had taken office last week.
Dozens Injured Amid Clashes In Serb-Majority Town In Kosovo
Kosovo Serbs face off with riot police outside the municipal headquarters in Zvecan on May 29. The protesters gathered to demand the removal of recently elected ethnic Albanian mayors.
At least 30 NATO-led KFOR troops were injured in violent clashes that began when the peacekeeping forces attempted to disperse crowds of ethnic Serb demonstrators. The protesters had ignored warnings to move away from the municipal headquarters.
KFOR troops lie injured after a scuffle with ethnic Serbs.
Zvecan, a town of some 16,500 people, is one of four municipalities in northern Kosovo where ethnic Albanian mayors took office following elections that local Serbs refuse to recognize.
A car was set ablaze during the clashes.
The ethnic Albanian mayors were all sworn in despite a turnout of under 3.5 percent in the April 23 elections, which were boycotted by the dominant Kosovo Serb party.
A local Kosovo Serb protester is detained near the Zvecan municipal headquarters.
Kosovo riot police and KFOR troops secure the area around the Zvecan municipal headquarters.
Injured KFOR troops lie on the ground after an attack as U.S. soldiers (right) direct other members of the peacekeeping force.
An injured KFOR soldier is removed from the clashes.
U.S. and EU envoys have expressed concern about the intensifying violence.