Kosova Daily Report #1699, 99-02-21
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1699
Prishtina, 21 February 1999
CONTENTS
[01] Bodies of Two Albanians Found near Suhareka in the Wake of Serb
Offensive
[02] Volatile Satiation in Suhareka, Serb Forces Buildup in the Are
Continues
[03] Albanians Fear Serb Forces Retaliation Following an Unloved Killing of
Two Serbs
[04] Body of Massacred Albanian Found at His Workplace in Prizren
[05] Albanian Killed in Unsolved Circumstances in Gjakova
[06] Serbs Store Military Equipment in Cellars of Medical Center in
Vushtrri
[07] Serb Forces Pound with Machine-gun Fire Albanian Houses in Vushtrri
[01] Bodies of Two Albanians Found near Suhareka in the Wake of Serb
Offensive
PRISHTINA, Feb 21 (KIC) - The bodies of two unidentified persons were found
today (Sunday) morning near the village of Gjinovc of Suhareka, southwest
of Prishtina.
Several villages in the municipality of Suhareka came under a heavy Serb
forces attack on Saturday afternoon. Besides Studen^an village which came
under direct attack, mortar shells landed in several other villages in the
area.
The identity of the two Albanians and the circumstances they were killed
could not be confirmed yet.
The LDK chapter in Suhareka said the OSCE observers went today to the site
where the two bodies were found.
[02] Volatile Satiation in Suhareka, Serb Forces Buildup in the Are
Continues
PRISHTINA, Feb 21 (KIC) - The situation has been highly volatile in the
town of Suhareka, 50 km southwest of Prishtina, as well as in the villages
that came under a heavy attack by Serb police and army forces on Saturday.
Local sources reported of further buildup of Serb troops in the area today
(Sunday). At around 9:10 CET, Serb/Yugoslav forces in over a dozen armored
vehicles and combat equipment were see moving on the Prizren-Suhareka
roadway. They were reportedly garrisoned in the vicinity of Albanian
settlements the area.
The LDK chapter in Suhareka described the situations as highly volatile in
the villages of Mushtisht, Studen^an, Reshtan and Samadraxha. A great part
of the local population has fled homes in the wake of the Saturday's
attacks and amidst threatening buildup of Serb forces.
[03] Albanians Fear Serb Forces Retaliation Following an Unloved Killing of
Two Serbs
PRISHTINA, Feb 21 (KIC) - The LDK chapter in Suhareka described the
situation in the Mushtisht village as highly volatile in the wake of the
unloved killing of two Serbs in the village.
Bodies of two local Serbs were found Saturday morning in the Mushtisht
village.
Albanian population fears the Serb forces and armed Serb civilians might
launch retaliatory campaigns in the village. The local Serbs smashed
Saturday several shops owned by the Albanians in Mushtisht. In addition,
they attacked a team of the OSCE verifiers and prevented them from entering
the village.
A Serb police patrol opened fire Saturday on the Albanian farmhouses in the
Recan village.
At around 14.25 CET today, the LDK chapter in Suhareka reported of an rapid
buildup of Serb police forces in the town. Heavily armed Serb policemen
have been maltreating virtually every single passerby in the streets.
[04] Body of Massacred Albanian Found at His Workplace in Prizren
PRISHTINA, Feb 21 (KIC) - The massacred body of Hamdi Likaj, 52, resident
Krajk village of Prizren, was found Saturday afternoon in the premises of
"Betonjerka" firm near the Drini River banks.
The LDK chapter in Prizren said the late Albanian left his house on 18
February and never returned back home. The family members went Saturday to
look for him at Betonjerka plant were he had worked as a caretaker, finding
his mutilated body.
The family informed the verifiers of the OSCE Kosova Verification Mission
in Prizren about the case.
There has been no word about the way he was killed.
[05] Albanian Killed in Unsolved Circumstances in Gjakova
PRISHTINA, Feb 21 (KIC) - A 25-year-old Albanian, Arben Saliuka, was killed
Saturday evening in Gjakova by unidentified gunmen.
The LDK chapter in Gjakova said Arben Saliuka was gunned down with
automatic fire in his courtyard in Gjakova, at around 22:00 CET last
evening.
[06] Serbs Store Military Equipment in Cellars of Medical Center in
Vushtrri
PRISHTINA, Feb 21 (KIC) - Huge amounts of military equipment were reported
stored in the cellars of the medical center in Vushtrri ('Vucitrn') during
the past two days.
The LDK chapter in Vushtrri said military facilities were brought from
midnight until morning hours on Friday night in the medical center and were
hidden in the halls and cellars.
Sources in Vushtrri said Serbs removed today equipment from police cadets
school in the town, taking them to unknown destination.
Lorriloads of miliary equipment have been noticed moving on the road in
several other parts of Kosova during the past two days.
[07] Serb Forces Pound with Machine-gun Fire Albanian Houses in Vushtrri
PRISHTINA, Feb 21 (KIC) - From 20:45 through 21:00 hrs on Saturday evening,
Serb army and police forces opened fire toward the Cakaj extended families
in Stanovc village of Vushtrri ('Vucitrn').
The LDK chapter in Vushtrri said the Serb soldiers were seen this morning
in the scene where from the village was fires onto, collecting fired
casting on the ground.
There has been no immediate word about possible casualties in the village.
The LDK said it could not learn if the Serb forces were attacking someone
in particular or were only involved in provocative shoot-outs.
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