UN Warns Of Escalating Tensions In Kosovo

Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic demanded investigation into organ-trafficking allegations.

UNITED NATIONS -- A senior UN official has warned in a report that tensions in Kosovo may escalate.

Farid Zarif, the UN's acting special representative for Kosovo, told the UN Security Council that the situation remained "tense and unpredictable" after a series of clashes between ethnic Albanians and Serbs in late July.

EULEX, the European Union Rule of Law mission in Kosovo, has just appointed U.S. prosecutor John Williamson to lead its Special Investigative Task Force to investigate these allegations.

While welcoming the EULEX action, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said at the council meeting that its mandate was not adequate for the task.

He also emphasized the need for full investigation of the allegations of organ trafficking involving members of the highest echelons of the Kosovo Albanian leadership, including Prime Minister Hashim Thaci.

"Serbia welcomes EULEX contribution to uncovering what occurred inside Kosovo itself. But the harvesting and smuggling of organs of innocent Serbian civilians took place beyond that territory as the relevant allegations appear to encompass various UN member states in Europe, Asia, and Africa," Jeremic said.

"Only the kidnapping took place within the contours of the province and as we all know, EULEX cannot operate at full capacity anywhere outside Kosovo."