Kosova Daily Report #1423, 98-05-08

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From: Kosova Information Center <http://www.kosova.com/>

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1423
Prishtina, 8 May 1998

First Edition: 16:30 hrs
Second Edition: 20:00 hrs

CONTENTS

[01] President Rugova's Press Conference

[02] U.S. Has Not Suggested the "Ultimate Disposition [for Kosova] Must Be within the Framework of the FRY", Foley Says

[03] Kosova Writers Urge President Clinton on Kosova

[04] Dear Mr. President,

[05] Popular Protests in Prishtina and Elsewhere in Kosova on Saturday

[06] Serbs Are Obstructing Implementation of Education Accord, Kosovar Official Says

[07] Serbian Forces Resume Attacking Border Villages

[08] Six Residents of Ponashec in Serb Custody Since Thursday, Many Other Still Missing

[09] Llausha Comes Again Under Serb Fire Thursday Afternoon

[10] Vehbi Mustafa Was Killed While on His Way Back Home from Work, Sources in Peja Say

[11] Serb Newspaper's Blatant Lie

[12] Albanian Youth Sentenced to 30 Days in Prison in Ka^anik

[13] Serbian Police Repression in Kosova

[14] LDK Sources Speak of Increasing Provocations by Serbian Police in Ferizaj

[15] Serb Forces Shoot Dead 36-Year-Old Albanian in De^an Friday Afternoon

[16] At Least One Killed in Attack of Serb Forces on Gllarev& Village

[17] Heavy Serb Forces Building Up around Two Villages on Prishtina-Peja Road

[18] Serb Forces Shell Balinca Village of Malisheva Friday Afternoon

Kosova Information Center

[01] President Rugova's Press Conference

During a press conference in Prishtina today (Friday), President Ibrahim Rugova hailed also the statement Clinton's envoy Ambassador Robert Gelbard made before the Senate Subcommittee this week, as well as the most recent remarks on Kosova by State Dept. spokesman James Foley, the EU External Relations Commissioner Hans Van den Broek, Swedish Foreign Minister Lena Hjelm-Walen, and German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel.

President Rugova of Kosova took the opportunity to thank diplomats who have visited Kosova this past week.

Dr. Ibrahim Rugova described the situation in Kosova as "extremely grave and volatile". He recalled that many villages in the Drenica village, as well as in the municipalities of De^an, Klina, Gjakova and Mitrovica have been kept sealed-off by Serb forces."In the aftermath of the massacres in February and March, when scores of Albanians were slain, this past week saw new casualties, mostly women".

The Serbian military buildup along the Kosova-Albanian border area has been confirmed by the OSCE mission in Albania, Dr. Rugova said.

He pressed for an immediate cessation of Serbian military and police operations in Kosova.

Rugova called on the international community to take preventative measures in Kosova. He urged the Kosova citizens exercise maximum restraint, and "not fall prey to provocations by extremists".

The President reconfirmed the position of the Kosova leadership for unconditional talks with Belgrade, which should be mediated by a third party and conducted in a neutral country.

The best solution for Kosova is independence and neutrality, with all guarantees for the local Serb community, Dr. Ibrahim Rugova said, reiterating his call for an international protectorate as an interim stage in Kosova.

In reply to a question, President Rugova said a civic society and state have been set up and maintained in the past years in Kosova, pursuing a non- violent policy which has averted the breakout of an open conflict in the region. "To save the people of Kosova" has been the main objective of the policy advocated by the Kosova leadership, Rugova said. "We have been committed to peaceful policies, and will continue on the path, because it constitutes the political will of the majority of the people of Kosova".

Commenting on the attempted murder of Ismail Shala, a local LDK activist in Peja, the President said the Serbian regime has for a decade now been engaged in oppressing and repressing people. "Tens of thousands of people have been ill-treated, thousands arrested, hundreds killed. There have been LDK activists among those killed."

Dr. Rugova condemned the attack on the Shala brothers [one of them died, KIC] in Peja, and pressed for an end to attempts to eliminate people for political motives.

By engaging in such acts, Belgrade wants to eliminate the political movement in Kosova, President Ibrahim Rugova concluded.

[02] U.S. Has Not Suggested the "Ultimate Disposition [for Kosova] Must Be within the Framework of the FRY", Foley Says

The reconfirmation came Thursday in the form of elaboration James B. Foley, the State Dept. spokesman made during the daily press briefing in Washington, in reply to questions by reporters.

He challenged the categorization "misstatement" about what President Clinton said a day earlier about Kosova.

"President Clinton said yesterday that Serbia is legally þ excuse me, Kosovo is legally part of Serbia, and that the solution there is for the Serbs to give the Kosovar Albanians some measure of self-government and decision-making within the framework of Serbia.

Until now, the US position has been quite clear that this should be done within the framework of Yugoslavia. But you've avoided saying it should be done within the framework of Serbia", a reporter remarked. Mr. Foley agreed that he had seen the second part of the quote - "framework of Serbia", whereas the first part about "legally within that nation, I'm not sure he said."

The questioner quoted Clinton as having said "The Serbs don't want to give up a big part of their country, which they believe and is legally part of their country", to which James Foley commented: "The province of Kosovo has, of course, changed status several times. It was an autonomous republic within the FRY, former Yugoslavia actually, before the Balkan wars that broke up the country. Milosevic then shifted its status and attached it to Serbia."

The State Dept. spokesman then went on to say that the U.S. position has all along been that "a solution to the problems of Kosovo must be found within existing international borders and through unconditional dialogue to develop enhanced self- administration for Kosovo that respects the rights of all, regardless of ethnicity." The President spoke to that Wednesday, during the joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, according to Foley.

"The ultimate responsibility for reaching accommodation lies with authorities in Belgrade and the Kosovar Albanian leadership in Pristina. But the international community also has an important role to play in facilitating negotiations.", James Foley pointed out.

He said a wide range of "possible arrangements" exists within these parameters which the United States could support. "It is up to the parties to decide through negotiation on the details of Kosovo autonomy. I believe the President did not mean to foreclose any options on this. In fact, what we have struggled to make clear is that no option should be foreclosed."

The U.S. regards this as a matter for the parties to decide themselves, the U.S. State Department's spokesman said. "President Milosevic has tried to close this off. We, in response, have not suggested, for example, that the ultimate disposition must be within the framework of the FRY. We've simply stated we believe this is a matter that should be negotiated, that should not be prejudged in advance of the negotiations, as President Milosevic has attempted to do thus far."

The reporter noted that the Serbs have already jumped on this statement [President Clinton's remarks, KIC] as saying that he is precisely expressing their position, "which is that Kosova is and always will be part of Serbia and that the only solution is in the framework of Serbia". So was the President expressing the US position or not?- the questioner asked.

Mr. Foley replied by saying that there is a wide range of possible arrangements within the parameters he discussed that the US could support. "We believe it is up to the parties to decide through negotiation on the details of Kosovo autonomy. I'd refer you to the White House if you're looking for further clarification.", the State Dept. spokesman said.

Does the United States believe that Milosevic is prepared to now accept Felipe Gonzalez as a mediator on Kosova, a questioner wanted to know.

Mr. Foley recalled that Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ivanov made some comments to the press, following his meetings in Belgrade, that indicated that he saw signs of possible flexibility in this regard. "That would be, certainly, a welcome development if it's true. We'll want to see if it's borne out by the facts. That is one of several elements that the Contact Group has called for, including a de-escalation of the crisis, a pull-back of the forces of repression, an unconditional dialogue and, as you indicate, international participation in negotiations between the Serb authorities in Belgrade and the Kosovar Albanians.", Mr. James Foley said. He stated that the U.S. has not gotten any concrete word on this, though.

In the run-up to May 9 deadline for additional sanctions on Belgrade, there has been no progress, Foley said, in reply to a question. [Russian] "Minister Ivanov's visit may have elicited an indication of a willingness to accept the role of the OSCE and Felipe Gonzalez and, we hope, international participation in negotiations. We don't have that confirmed in any way. So we've not seen real progress on that front; we've not seen real progress. On the contrary, we see an escalation of FRY deployments in Kosovo that bode ill for future events there. And as I said, we've not seen any move towards unconditional dialogue between Belgrade and the Kosovar Albanians. So the signs don't look good.", the State Dept. spokesman said.

Foreign ministers will be in London in the context of G-8 meetings, "and my understanding is they will convene separately on the Kosovo issue" on Saturday, Foley said. "I would fully expect that they're going to be taking the confirming or implementing decision to impose the investment ban, as they agreed in Rome."

The Foreign Ministers [of the Contact Group] will convene on the margins of the G-8 meeting in London on Saturday, Mr. Foley emphasized.

[03] Kosova Writers Urge President Clinton on Kosova

Following is the text of the letter, dated May 8, 1998: (begin text) The Honorable Bill Clinton President of the United States of America The White House Washington D.C. USA

[04] Dear Mr. President,

Serbian military and police forces have been shelling Albanian settlements, and killing civilians on a daily basis all over Kosova. Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes.

The Serbian regime has embarked on an ethnic cleansing campaign, forcing citizens out of their homesteads.

In Kosova, where the 8 percent Serbian minority, backed by state- sponsored terror, rules the 90 percent Albanian majority, Serbian military and police have slain around 150 civilian Albanians in the last couple of months. This is too high a price being paid to a terrorist regime and a tyrant who has for seven years now been leaving thousands of dead and destruction of cities and villages in the former Yugoslavia. The crimes stirred up by the sinister nationalism of the Milosevic regime, seen earlier in Croatia and Bosnia, have been on the increase in Kosova.

Mr. President, During the whole period of the gripping crisis in the lands of the former Yugoslavia, the Albanians pursued a disciplined, mature and peaceful policy in their struggle for freedom, receiving all the time permanent encouragement for this by the international community, first and foremost by the United States of America.

Through President Bush, the nation-symbol for world democracy sent on Christmas Day in 1992 a message of encouragement to Kosova Albanians to be steadfast on their peaceful path. The message, referred to as the Christmas Warning, and repeated by You, threatened U.S. military response in case of Serbian aggression in Kosova. The terrorist regime of Milosevic, which has been building up forces in Kosova to kill civilian Albanians and destroy their homes, has by now trampled on the line drawn by the U.S. Civilians are faced with an endless massacre, for the people are unarmed and defenseless, whereas Albanian leaders still cherish the hope of international community stepping in to stop Serbia's aggression.

Mr. President, In view of Your overall contribution to peace and freedom of nations, highly appreciating the strong commitment of the United States of America to these, we herewith address you on behalf of Albanian writers and intellectuals, but also in the name of mothers and children who have no protection against a large-scale massacre, to urge You move urgently and act with resolution for peace by forcing the Milosevic regime bring an end to its campaign of killings and destruction in Kosova.

We trust Your dedication and resolve, as does our nation, who sees in You and in the United States window of opportunity for its future in the community of free and civilized nations of the world.

(end text) The letter is signed by Mr. Milazim Krasniqi, Secretary-General of the Kosova Writers Association, and Mr. Sabri Hamiti, Secretary- General of the Prishtina-based Albanian PEN Center.

[05] Popular Protests in Prishtina and Elsewhere in Kosova on Saturday

For four weeks now, tens of thousands of Albanians have been marching from 12:00 through 12:30 in Prishtina and in other towns of Kosova to protest Serbian rule and call for independence of Kosova. The marches have been calm, with no slogans shouted or placards held up.

Tomorrow's protest manifestation will be a calm march for the first 20 minutes. In the next five minutes participants are required to read out the text which will be in placards as well as published in the press, the Protest Committee said. The last five minutes will the time for the crowd of people to chant the slogan: "Freedom, Independence".

The protest will close at 12:30 on Saturday, whereas the peaceful marches of the past four weeks will be resumed from Sunday on, the Republic's Protest Organizing Committee said in a statement issued Thursday.

[06] Serbs Are Obstructing Implementation of Education Accord, Kosovar Official Says

PRISHTINA, May 8 (KIC) - Rexhep Osmani, member of the Kosovar group for the implementation of the Education Accord, told KIC today the Serbian side is obstructing its implementation.

On 23 March 1998, measures were agreed for the implementation of the September 1 1996 accord, signed by President Rugova of Kosova and then Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic.

"Only two out of fifteen unused school buildings have been re- opened to Albanians", Osmani said, adding that Albanian students and teachers have not been allowed to get back to the three faculties of the University of Prishtina on 30 April, as agreed upon.

The Serbian side is unilaterally pressing for a re-distribution (division) schools between Serbs and Albanians, which is in contradiction to the Agreement, Rexhep Osmani said. "According to the Serbian proposal, Albanians cannot get back to 39 secondary school building, whereas in 14 municipalities no middle schools have been envisioned".

Out of 19 schools, proposed to be given to Albanians, only 10 are usable; nine schools are damaged; 12 schools in Kosova have been occupied by Serb refugees; and nothing has been done to ensure that they are vacated, Rexhep Osmani said.

It is all but clear that the Serbian side has no intention of complying with the terms of the Agreement and the timetable agreed upon on 23 March 1998, the Kosovar education official told KIC.

Meanwhile, Serbian students have threatened they will not allow Albanians re-enter the premises of the University of Prishtina.

They started Thursday a protest inside the three technical faculties in Prishtina, which have been chosen as the first university buildings the Albanians would be allowed access to after almost seven years.

[07] Serbian Forces Resume Attacking Border Villages

The Information Commission in Gjakova said the Serb forces have been raiding houses, looting them, as well as arresting people who have remained in their homes.

The abandoned houses of three Albanian families (Rama, Shabani and Neziri) at Ponoshec village of Gjakova have been shelled and set on fire, sources said.

There is fear about the life of the 88-year-old Albanian, Ram& Ali Neziri, who is sick and has remained at his place, LDK sources said.

[08] Six Residents of Ponashec in Serb Custody Since Thursday, Many Other Still Missing

The LDK Information Commission in Gjakova said heavy Serb police forces carried a brutal house-to-house raid in Ponashec yesterday morning. Serb police ill-treated family members, smashed and demolished furniture and house belongings of the Albanians.

Following the raid, the police detained over a dozen of residents of Ponashec, including children, women and elderly.

The women and children were released at around 21:00 hrs last evening, whereas Ali Rama (72, Halil Rama (60), Shaban Rama (45), Muhamet Rama (36), Qamil Rama (38) and Uk& Rama are being held in Serb police station in Gjakova.

The Ponashec village has been for almost two weeks now kept inside a deadly siege by the Serb forces garrisoned in the area. The village has come under repeated artillery and machine-gun fire for days.

The LDK branch in Gjakova has reported that a significant number of residents of Ponashec and neighboring villages, including entire families, have been missing in the wake of Serb army/police attacks on the village. The missing persons are suspected either arrested by the Serb force, killed or even executed during the Serb attacks on the village.

[09] Llausha Comes Again Under Serb Fire Thursday Afternoon

Llausha and over a dozen other villages in Drenica have been held under harsh siege by Serb arm and police forces for over two months now when around 100 people were killed and slain during Serb forces' onslaughts in the area, Mr. Gadil Geci, chairman of the LDK chapter in Llausha told KIC the village came under intermittent fire during the whole of course of afternoon and evening yesterday. At around 8 p.m., the shootings died out, he said.

Roofs and walls of several houses in Llausha were badly damaged during the yesterday's Serb attack, Geci said, adding that he could not confirm if there were casualties amongst the local population.

[10] Vehbi Mustafa Was Killed While on His Way Back Home from Work, Sources in Peja Say

Vehbi Mustafa, an employee with the Peja Electrical Supply company, had been tasked to wok at the Kozhnjek hydro power plant near De^an. He was killed while on his way back home from work, and his body transferred to the Peja hospital.

No other details have been made known, excepting the fact that the incident which left him dead occurred 200 meters away from the De^an Monastery. Heavy Serbian military and police forces as well as paramilitaries have been deployed in the area for quite some time.

Vehbi Mustafa will be buried today in the Peja cemetery.

Meanwhile, local LDK sources in De^an have no knowledge of the unsolved incident reported by Serbian media, which said an Albanian, named Vehbi Mustafa, was killed whereas three people wounded, Bosko Vlahovic, Esad Muminovic and Miso Mijovic, all of them employees of Electric Supply company, and Dragan Djurisic, employee with the local forestry company.

The LDK sources in De^an said last night was clam there. No shooting was reported in the municipality today.

Meanwhile, reports said convoys of Serb military which left Gjakova earlier in the day passed through De^an and proceeded for Peja.

Only 60 percent of the schoolchildren are attending classes in the municipality of De^an, LDK sources said, adding that in the town of De^an itself the schools have closed down altogether because of the prevailing situation.

Life in De^an has been brought to a virtual standstill in the wake of the campaign of killings of Albanians by Serbian forces.

[11] Serb Newspaper's Blatant Lie

One such a lie appears in its today's (Friday) edition, writing about the LDK branch in Gjakova and its chairman Aqif Shehu.

According to the newspaper, the LDK office in Gjakova has been closed down for over a week now, while its chairman has fled the country taking with himself huge amounts of money. Aqif Shehu run away to Germany via Albania, Politika said.

Sources in Gjakova said that the local LDK office has been operating all day long every day, though under constant pressure by the Serb police. Aqif Shehu, who besides being chairman of the chapter of Democratic League (LDK) in Gjakova is member of the top LDK leadership based in Prishtina. Mr. Shehu has been seen in the offices of LDK in Prishtina and Gjakova almost every day, and he was here in Prishtina today (Friday) too.

The lie launched by the Serb daily bodes ill, because it is rather clear that its design is sinister. The money Aqif Shehu had 'expropriated' was dedicated to the so-called Liberation Army of Kosova (U^K), Politika lies. This is one of the methods the Serb police and intelligence services in generating confrontations between the Albanian diaspora.

Such games are transparent enough, but dangerous too.

Only yesterday Politika claimed the two Albanian elderly who were found dead Wednesday in the riverbed of Bistrica were allegedly killed by the U^K, dubbing the killed as 'loyal citizens to Serbia'!.

Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of the two Albanians on Thursday, while the LDK branch in De^an said the two Albanians had been respected citizens in the community and permanently targeted by the Serb regime.

[12] Albanian Youth Sentenced to 30 Days in Prison in Ka^anik

He was arrested in a bar and was immediately taken to the Serb-run Court in Ka^anik, and sentenced to 30 days in prison. He was charged with having failed to stop his car on a stop sign by the Serbian army.

[13] Serbian Police Repression in Kosova

Among the persons beaten badly are reported Selami Zllanoga and Jermin Shala.

The police forces moved to a different part of the town several hours later. They ill-treated and intimidated passers-bye for several hours and withdrew.

Sources in Rahovec said some 20 Serbian policemen were stationed at the center of Zaqisht village Thursday 9.30 pm. They stayed there for half-an- hour, during which time they shot constantly in the air.

Repression in Mitrovica has been mounting during this week. The number of the persons beaten by the Serbian police has increased enormously.

The Serbian police beat severely Thursday noon Naser Hyseni and Man Hyseni in downtown Mitrovica, under charges that they had participated in the peaceful protests. The police used truncheons.

Another Serbian police patrol halted Agim Maliqi (24) in downtown Mitrovica Thursday and beat him until he fainted. He was then taken to the police station in town and held there for four hours. He was reported to have been tortured additionally at the police station.

The Serbian police in Mitrovica beat severely Kadri Kuqanaj, teacher, Izet Ahmeti school principal, and Rrahim Abazi, school secretary of the local primary school in Zasell& village on Wednesday.

The three were forced into the police vehicles and beaten severely.

They were driven some 500 meters from the place and thrown out, LDK sources in Mitrovica reported.

In Ka^anik the Serbian police ill-treated two teachers of the local secondary school, Fadil Rakoci and Selman Luzha.

[14] LDK Sources Speak of Increasing Provocations by Serbian Police in Ferizaj

A convoy of Serbian police with two APCs and one personnel carrier showed force in downtown Ferizaj Wednesday afternoon. While they drove through the town center, they had their guns pointed towards residents on the streets.

Another convoy of the Serbian police went to several villages of Ferizaj Wednesday, intimidating local residents. At Greme village the convoy stopped and the Serbian policemen got out of their vehicles to stage a drill in and around the village for half-an- hour.

LDK sources in Ferizaj said the number of Serbian police forces in town has increased enormously recently, adding to the already tense situation.

[15] Serb Forces Shoot Dead 36-Year-Old Albanian in De^an Friday Afternoon

The LDK Information Commission in De^an said Haki Kameraj was shot dead in the fields above his village, about one mile far from his house at around 14:00 hrs today.

The late Haki Kameraj was pasturing cattle together with his brother Dervish Kameraj and his uncle Nezir Kameraj when attacked by Serb paramilitares in camouflage uniforms and painted faces. The attackers opened fire on all the three Albanians, wounding fatally Haki Kameraj. The two other men made a narrow escape, the Commission said.

Haki Kameraj will be buried tomorrow in the L&bush& village cemetery at 13:00 hrs, LDK sources said.

Heavy Serb forces - police, military and paramilitary - have been deployed in the De^an municipality for weeks now.

Only two days ago, two elderly Albanians, Hajdar Kuqi (77) and Bek& Cacaj (70), were killed by drowning in the river Bistrica near De^an. The two Albanians were likewise killed while pasturing cattle in the meadows not far from their homes.

[16] At Least One Killed in Attack of Serb Forces on Gllarev& Village

The LDK Information Commission said Agim Hasanaj (24), native of Gllareva, was killed. More are feared killed and wounded.

"Agim was killed in the doorstep; then they placed a rifle near his body and took photos", Gjerjane, Agim's sister-in-law, said.

The house of Zenel Pantina has been reportedly burned down.

Shk&lqim Hasanaj, an eighth-form pupil, was beaten up at his place.

"We were inside the house. Police entered the yard and began shooting and shouting names unfamiliar to us. Then they arrested family members, some of whom were dumped from second floor onto ground", the boy said.

Serbian forces launched a large-scale operation against the village last night. The attack continued till 15:00 hrs today.

Serb military aircraft flew overhead the area all day today.

A number of the village residents have fled their homes, running for their lives, amidst the Serbian attack.

The fierce attack started just after nine o'clock in the morning today. After an exchange of fire, scores of policemen backed up by police armored vehicles advanced to the Pantinaj family compound, firing into houses.

Three elderly people have been reported ill-treated barbarically: Ali, Zenel and Arif Pantina. They were arrested eventually. Police armored vehicles have entered the school yard.

Xhafer Hasanaj, Ymer Hasanaj (father to the killed Agim Hasanaj) and Miftar Hasanaj, teacher, have been arrested.

The village of Gllareva has 2400 inhabitants. Most of the residents have fled their homes.

The sound of heavy fire and explosions has been heard coming from the villages of Gjurgjevik i Madh and Dob&rdol. The house of Anton Nik& Zef& Berisha is known to have been hit.

Meanwhile, Serb police forces started building up and setting up a military- police checkpoint near the local authority office in the village.

Alongside the Klina - Zllakuqan road Serb military forces and paramilitary police with painted faces have been deployed.

Reports said two or three wounded Serb policemen have been taken to the Health Center in the small town of Klina today.

Eye-witnesses who travelled from Klina to Gjurakovc today afternoon told KIC they saw a crazy movement of Serbian special units, whose members had painted faces.

Meanwhile, Serbian sources said Agim Hasanaj was killed today after an alleged attack on a Serb police patrol. Agim's brothers were arrested and several Albanian houses raided, in which military uniforms with the U^K [Kosova Liberation Army] sign were discovered, according to Serb media.

Serb media reported of several incidents in which Serb patrols were targeted, and a number of policemen wounded.

[17] Heavy Serb Forces Building Up around Two Villages on Prishtina-Peja Road

A Kosova Red Cross activist said he could see seven Serb army tanks and as many vehicles with Serb soldiers on board being positioned in one location alone, between the two villages. More Serb soldiers with arms on the ready could be seen in some other places along the road, he added.

The Serbs army troops were equipped with heavy armament and have taken up positions in places from where Arllat and Negroc villages can be attacked, a witness told KIC.

Meanwhile, the LDK Information Commission in Gllogovc said that at around 15:00 hrs the Serb forces launched an attack at Gjurgjica village, a hamlet neighboring on Arllat and Negroc villages.

Fresh Serb police forces have been reported heading for the area until late afternoon when the Serb attack was still underway.

Serb policemen on board of an armored vehicle opened fire on the passerby near Komoran while driving through the village. Sources have named the Albanian as Sefer Elshani (60) from Gllabar of Gllogovc. His life condition is reported critical.

[18] Serb Forces Shell Balinca Village of Malisheva Friday Afternoon

Sources in Malisheva said Serb forces have been firing on Albanian homes in the village with heavy armament and artillery.

A 40-year-old Albanian woman, Hanife Kelmendi, was reported wounded, while residents of the village have been rapidly moving out from the village in a bid to find shelter with their relatives in other villages.

A report from the region said the Serb police has used a bus with passengers on board as a human2 shield during the operation in the village.

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