Kosova Daily Report #1488, 98-07-12

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

Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1488
Prishtina, 12 July 1998

CONTENTS

[01] Two Albanians Reported Killed, Three Others Feared Killed in Western Kosova

[02] Seven Albanians Wounded in Strellc of De^an Saturday Evening

[03] Several Villages of the Shala e Bajgor&s Region Shelled by Serb Forces

[04] Serb Snipers Shoot at and Wound Two Humanitarian Activists

[05] Serb Paramilitaries Open Fire on Pantin& and Okrashtic& Villages

[06] U^K Says It Is Expanding the Zone of Operations in Kosova

[07] U^K Hand over Yugoslav Army Deserters to International Agencies

[01] Two Albanians Reported Killed, Three Others Feared Killed in Western Kosova

There have been no reported casualties there.

Heavy fighting was reported in the village of Prejlep last night.

Gunfire could be heard today (Sunday) along the Gjakova - Peja roadway, local sources said.

In Peja, Shaban Mu^aj (65), resident of Lluka e Ep&rme, a mentally- sick person, died yesterday of Serb torture.

It is suspected that in the Dardania neighborhood of Peja, neighboring on the village of Loxh& - scene of fierce fighting between Serbian troops and local Albanian resistance forces yesterday - Serbs killed and then dumped into the water ditch Ali Panxhaj (54), owner of the "Delta-Impex" firm, and two elderly women, whose names have not yet been made known.

Meanwhile, Rexh& Morina, native of Loxh&, died last night of wounds he had received during the Serbian attack earlier yesterday.

[02] Seven Albanians Wounded in Strellc of De^an Saturday Evening

Sources in De^an said there were heavy clashes between the Serb military forces and local Albanian resistance units in Strellc.

Strellc i Ep&rm came under a heavy mortar attack after sunset yesterday. Seven local Albanians were wounded and material damage was caused.

The LDK chapter in De^an has named the wounded Albanians as Avni Hasanmetaj (33), Xhevat Hasanmetaj (29), Syl& Hasanmetaj (28), Hajredin Hasanmetaj (23), Isa Avdimetaj (32), Rexhep Avdimetaj (24) and Selman Avdimetaj (15).

Avni Hasanmetaj has received life-threatening wounds, sources said.

Still unconfirmed reports said that there was loss of life on the Serb side.

[03] Several Villages of the Shala e Bajgor&s Region Shelled by Serb Forces

Serbs started shelling at 12:30 hrs from the hilltop village of Koshtov&, where 'Yugoslav' military has a bases.

There have been no reported casualties.

Saturday's shelling as well as earlier Serb attacks on the villages of Pantin&, Okrashtic& and ^ab&r, indicate that Serb forces are intent on extending their offensive operations in other parts of Kosova.

[04] Serb Snipers Shoot at and Wound Two Humanitarian Activists

The LDK chapter in Obiliq said the two humanitarian workers were wounded at around 16:00 yesterday at Janovod& village. They were driving back home to Obiliq after having delivered a lorryload of relief supplies at Sibovc village, when attacked by Serbs at Janovoda village.

Witnesses said Serb snipers opened fire without warning on the lorry of "Mother Teresa" association. Xhevdet Stullqaku received life-threatening wounds in his head, whereas Selatin Hasani sustained slighter injuries.

The LDK Information Commission in Obiliq said Xhevdet Stullqaku underwent a head surgery in the Prishtina hospital last evening.

His life condition is still critical, hospital sources said.

[05] Serb Paramilitaries Open Fire on Pantin& and Okrashtic& Villages

[06] U^K Says It Is Expanding the Zone of Operations in Kosova

The war in Kosova between the Liberation Army and the occupying troops has assumed dimensions of a large-scale operation, the U^K said in the statement forwarded to the media in Prishtina.

The U^K units have scored considerable results in maintaining and attaining control over many strategic points and other vital objects in Kosova, the organization said.

2The U^K statement referred to the zones of Pashtrik, Drenica, Llapi, Karadaku and Dukagjini, as ares where actions have been taken by the U^K "in order to strengthen and extend positions".

The U^K said fighting was going on in Drenica, whereas "units for emergency action" have undertaken important actions in Prishtina, Podujeva, in Shal& and in Bardh i Madh ('Belacevac'). Three Albanian fighters have been killed, whereas U^K has carried actions in the Karadaku zone, too, the statement said.

"The largest operations are being carried by U^K units in the zone of Dukagjini, in order to expand the free territory", the statement said, adding that the Serbian occupier has sustained huge losses, and the Albanian resistance forces lost four men.

The General Staff of the U^K calls on the Albanian people to unite behind and close ranks with the armed forces of the U^K, the statement said.

The U^K called on all fellow-countrymen to donate money to the "Homeland Calling" (Vendlindja th&rret) fund. "We call upon the 2Bukoshi Government to release the money collected for the liberation of Kosova, and pay it to the appropriate fund", the statement said.

At the end of the statement, the U^K hailed the international community's efforts, "especially the engagement of the United States of America", on Kosova.

This engagement should be accelerated and concrete, because it would contribute to peace and stability in Kosova and wider in the region, the U^K concluded in the statement numbered 49.

[07] U^K Hand over Yugoslav Army Deserters to International Agencies

The three army deserters were from Montenegro, sources said, adding that they had surrendered themselves to the U^K. Sources did not specify which international agencies took over the deserters.

Still unconfirmed reports said that more Yugoslav army (VJ) soldiers who have deserted from the army ranks amidst the unfolding Serb aggression in Kosova have been given sanctuary in the homes of local resistance units. Three is an ever increasing number of soldiers, mainly from Montenegro and Vojvodina but Serbia proper too, deserting from the Yugoslav army bases in Kosova.

Kosova Information Center

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