Journalists and members of KFOR were raped, five people suffered badly in the north of Kosovo

The Kosovo police report that they have arrested five people suspected of attacks and violence against KFOR members in the municipality of Zveçan in the north of Kosovo.

In a press release, the Police said that several members of KFOR were injured as a result of the violence in the north of the country, an official police car was burned and other cars were damaged.

The protests still continue and the situation is tense, especially in Zveçan, where, according to the Kosovo Police, "armed criminal groups are on the move, dressed in black and masked clothes."

"The Kosovo Police has continuously coordinated with KFOR to manage the situation. KFOR have been forced to act as the violence of the protesters has put the lives of officials at risk, damage to vehicles and public property has been put at risk", says the press release of the Kosovo Police.

In Zveçan, according to the Kosovo Police, the protesters continued to be non-peaceful and "provoked the situation, used violence and shot at police officers".

The protesters in Zveçan, according to the police, did not comply with the official orders to leave, but resisted and started throwing various tools such as "molotov cocktails, grenades, explosive devices and gunshots were heard".

The Kosovo Police says that it is continuing its commitments in providing security and the progress of the protests in the north of the country.

"Looking at the circumstances and the tense situation created by the criminal groups in the north of the country, the Kosovo Police invites the citizens to calm down and not fall prey to provocations of whatever nature they may be", says the announcement of the Kosovo Police.

At least 25 soldiers of the peacekeeping mission of NATO in Kosovo, KFOR, have been injured as a result of clashes with Serbian citizens in the municipality of Zveçan in the north of Kosovo.

Tensions reignited in Kosovo's northern municipalities after the mayors emerged from the April 23 emergency elections - all Albanians - were opposed by local Serbs.

On May 26, five policemen were injured during clashes with Serb protesters who threw stones at them. The police responded with stun grenades and tear gas.

The previous heads of the four municipalities in the north, North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Zveçan and Leposaviq, inhabited by a majority of Serbs, were from the Serbian List. However, they resigned in November last year, as a sign of dissatisfaction with a decision of the Government of Kosovo to re-register cars with RKS - Republic of Kosovo license plates.

The elections of April 23 were boycotted by the Serbian List and by the Serbian majority population in the north, which now does not accept the results, namely the new presidents./ REL