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Kosova Daily Report #1998, 99-02-20
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1998
Prishtina, 20 February 1999
CONTENTS
[01] Serb Forces Launch Repeated Attacks against Podujeva Villages
Saturday
[02] Serb Forces Mount Fierce Attack Against Albanian Settlements in
Suhareka
[03] Stepped Up Movements of Serb Troops, Hostile Armosphere, in Kosovar
Towns
[04] Heavy Explosion, Serb Forces Buildup, in Prizren
[05] Army Reservists in Big Numbers Arrive in Mitrovica from Serb Towns
[06] Serb Court Sentences 15 Kosovar Albanians to 38 Years of Imprisonment
[01] Serb Forces Launch Repeated Attacks against Podujeva Villages
Saturday
PRISHTINA, Feb 20 (KIC) - Several villages in the municipality of Podujeva,
northern Kosova, came under repeated Serb attacks on Saturday.
Llapashtica, Obran^a and Katunishta, came under heavy mortar fire since
early in the morning. The villages were intermittently fired onto for three
hours beginning from 6:00 hrs, local sources said. The sound of detonation
could be heard even in Prishtina, about 30 km away, at around 6:50.
The Albanian settlements and UCK positions were attacked from tanks and
Serb positions at Tabet e Llapashtic&s, Peran, and the airfield at Dumoshi
village The LDK chapter in Podujeva said Serb snipers have been
positioned in several places in the area.
There were reports of increased mobilization of Serb civilians and stepped
up movement of Serb army and police forces in the municipality.
The villages of Godishnjak, Sallabaj&, Konushec e Buric& were attacked on
repeated occasions by the Serb police overnight.
The chapter of the Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms
(CDHRF) in Podujeva said a number houses were burned in the villages west
of Podujeva in the Serb shelling over the past days.
[02] Serb Forces Mount Fierce Attack Against Albanian Settlements in
Suhareka
PRISHTINA, Feb 20 (KIC) þ Serb forces mounted today (Saturday) at around
noon a heavy attack against several villages in the municipalities of
Suhareka and Rahovec ('Orahovac'), local sources said.
The LDK chapter in Suhareka said the Serb forces shelled for about one hour
the village of Studen^an. The local population fled the village in panic.
There has been no immediate word about possible casualties.
Heavy weapons' shrapnels landed in the villages of Neperbisht and near
Samadraxha local residents said.
Referring to a report of the OSCE Kosova Verification Mission, the LDK in
Suhareka said the bodies of two Serbs, identified brothers Radovan and
Zoran Mihajlovic, were found today near the Mushitish village.
There has been no word still about the circumstances the two Serbs were
killed but the local residents in Mushitish were quoted as saying that
firearm shooting was heard last night in the village.
[03] Stepped Up Movements of Serb Troops, Hostile Armosphere, in Kosovar
Towns
PRISHTINA, Feb 20 (KIC) þ A significantly stepped up movement of Serb
police and military forces has been reported since early in the morning
today (Saturday) in most of the Kosova towns.
In addition to increased Serb police forces in the streets of the Kosova's
capital, Prishtina, groups of army reservists could be seen roaming on the
streets during the whole course of the day.
Heavily armed Serb police in armored vehicles were positioned in several
key junctions in Prishtina since morning hours.
Sources in Fushe-Kosova, west of Prishtina, said lorries with armed Serb
forces have been moving on the Prishtina-Peja roadway during the whole day
today. Serb police in groups up to 20 have been patrolling the streets of
the small town. The movement of local population has been restricted to the
minimum, the LDK chapter said.
Sources in other Kosovar town reported of increased forces in the streets,
involved provoking and harassing random passersby.
Rapid buildup and increased movement of Serb forces has been reported also
in Suhareka, Mitrovica, Peja and Malisheva.
The atmosphere in these towns has been quite hostile.
[04] Heavy Explosion, Serb Forces Buildup, in Prizren
PRISHTINA, Feb 20 (KIC) þ A heavy explosion was heard Friday evening at
around 22.30 hrs in the vicinity of the brick factory in Landovica, north
of Prizren, the LDK chapter in Prizren said.
Shooting from different kinds of weapons were heard in the area
afterwards.
Heavy Serb police forces kept the area sealed off last night and today
morning, the source said.
Serb police has been patrolling the streets of the town during the whole
course of last night and today (Saturday).
[05] Army Reservists in Big Numbers Arrive in Mitrovica from Serb Towns
PRISHTINA, Feb 20 (KIC) þ Serb army reservists in big numbers have arrived
from Serbia to the town of Mitrovica since small hours today (Saturday). A
larger contingent of Serb reservists reached the town on a train at around
3 a.m., local sources said.
The mobilized Serbs have been housed in the Serb army barracks in
Mitrovica.
During the whole course of last night amounts of military equipment were
removed from the army barracks in Mitrovica and taken to the village of
Frasher (Svinjare) and to the halls of the battery factory near Mitrovica.
[06] Serb Court Sentences 15 Kosovar Albanians to 38 Years of Imprisonment
PRISHTINA, Feb 20 (KIC) þ The chairman of the District Court in, Prokuplje
(Serbia), Branislav Niketic, has told the Beta news agency that 15
Albanians were sentenced Friday to a combined 38 years in prison on
'hostile activity' and 'terrorism'-related charges, the Koha Ditore
newspaper said today.
Niketic said four Albanians - Sinan Batiqi (27), Xhavit Ka^aniku (57),
Rrahim Aliu (37) and Feriz Zapelaj (36) þ were sentenced to four years in
prison each.
Eleven other Albanians were sentenced to three and a half years each, he
said.
Kosova Information Center
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