|
|
|
Kosova Daily Report #1726, 99-03-20
Kosova Information Center
KOSOVA DAILY REPORT #1726
Prishtina, 20 March 1999
First Edition: 12:30 CET
CONTENTS
[01] Serbian Military Mounts Attacks in Large Parts of Kosova
[02] Serbians Forces Mount Heavy Shelling of Drenica Villages
[03] Several Villages in Vushtrri Area Shelled, Serb Forces Positioned at
Mihaliq
[04] Serbian Forces Crack down on Prugoc, Besi and Barilev& Villages of
Prishtina
[05] Scores of Tanks and Other Serb Combat Vehicles Arrive in Lipjan
[01] Serbian Military Mounts Attacks in Large Parts of Kosova
PRISHTINA, March 20 (KIC) 10:00 CET - While the OSCE Kosova Verification
Mission (KVM), the 1,400-international mission which oversaw the situation
in Kosova since autumn, has been evacuating today, Serbian military and
paramilitary police troops have launched offensive operations in several
parts of Kosova, perhaps one fourth of the entire territory of Kosova.
Local LDK sources have reported Serbian attacks today morning in the
Podujeva, Vushtrri, Mitrovica, Skenderaj and Gllogovc municipalities, in
northern and central Kosova.
The population of the villages of Dumnic& e Ep&rme and P&rpellac,
municipality of Podujeva, situated along the northern Kosova-Serbia border,
have fled their homes today morning.
A huge Serbian military convoy, which had so far been on the Serbian side
of the border, entered these Albanian villages today morning, local sources
said. The Serb military has deployed at a location called "Te lisat" in
Dumnic& e Ep&rme as well as near the local school in P&rpellac.
Meanwhile, Serbian forces shelled today morning the villages of Majac,
Buric&, Godishnjak& and Sallabaj&, municipality of Podujeva, some 20 km
north of capital Prishtina.
At 6:30 CET today, Serbian forces started shelling the villages of Oshlan,
Pantin& and Lkej, municipality of Vushtrri, which have been under daily
Serb attack for almost a month now.
A huge convoy of Serbian forces, consisting of over 50 combat vehicles,
left today morning Mitrovica heading for Skenderaj ('Srbica'), where there
has been an increased Serb forces' presence, resulting in the flight of the
Albanian population to escape an expected onslaught.
At 6:30 CET, Serbian forces started shelling the villages of Mikushnic& and
Prekaz, municipality of Skenderaj, where the current Serbian aggression and
war in Kosova actually started in early March last year. The Serbian
infantry units have reportedly entered Prekaz i Ul&t, Prekaz i Ep&rm and
Polac villages in the area.
Many Serbian vehicles were seen travelling the Mitrovica-Skenderaj roadways
today morning.
A source from Skenderaj told the KIC large Serb forces have been
concentrating around the town, and that the population in the vicinity of
the Game Ammunition Factory in the suburbs has fled their homes.
Serbian forces dressed in camouflaged, white uniforms have been seen
roaming the streets of Skenderaj. The local people, locked up in their
homes, fear an imminent Serb crackdown.
Early in the morning today, Serbian forces started shelling the villages of
the municipality of Gllogovc, in central Kosova, local sources told the
KIC.
[02] Serbians Forces Mount Heavy Shelling of Drenica Villages
PRISHTINA, March 20 (KIC) 12:00 CET- Serbian forces entered Korrotic& e
Ep&rme village at 9:00 CET today. They have been shelling Korrotic& and
Vasilev& villages from there, reports said.
From their military/police base at the Ferronikeli (Ferrous nickel)
industrial compound, Serbs have been shelling ^ikatov& e Vjet&r and Gllobar
villages, the U^K's Kosovapress news agency reported from Gllogovc.
Huge Serbian forces have been massing around the Drenica region for some
time now, while large parts of the area around ^i^avica mountains has been
besieged by huge Serbian army and paramilitary police forces, according to
Kosovapress.
Meanwhile, in the neighboring municipality of Skenderaj, smoke has been
reported billowing from an Albanian neighborhood near the Game Ammunition
Factory, abandoned earlier today by its population.
Serb police have been raiding Albanian houses in the vicinity of the
Skenderaj town hospital today, local sources said.
[03] Several Villages in Vushtrri Area Shelled, Serb Forces Positioned at
Mihaliq
PRISHTINA, March 20 (KIC) - Last night, Serbian forces shelled the village
of Be^uk, local sources said.
Serbian forces near the Shkabaj ('Orlovic') village blocked the movement of
people on the Prishtina-Mitrovica highway today morning.
Today, at 10:15 CET, Serbian military resumed shelling the villages of
Oshlan, Balinc, Liqej, Pantin& and other outlying areas in the
municipality.
A Serbian police convoy headed at 6:00 CET today towards the village of
Pantin&.
Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon nine Serbian army tanks and three lorryloads
of soldiers left Mitrovica for Vushtrri, at a time four Serb tanks arrived
in Vushtrri from Prishtina. They headed to Mihaliq village, where they
deployed, local LDK sources in Vushtrri reported.
[04] Serbian Forces Crack down on Prugoc, Besi and Barilev& Villages of
Prishtina
PRISHTINA, March 20 (KIC) - Serbian forces opened fire on an Albanian
family compound at Prugoc village, and were seen later establishing their
presence in the neighboring villages of Barilev& and Besi, a dozen km north
of Prishtina, near the Prishtina- Podujeva highway.
Albanian residents of these villages, which have arrived in the capital
Prishtina, said Serb forces had entered the area, and the local people fled
their homes.
[05] Scores of Tanks and Other Serb Combat Vehicles Arrive in Lipjan
Proceed towards neighboring Shtime municipality
PRISHTINA, March 20 (KIC) - Scores of Serbian combat vehicles, including
army tanks, arrived today in the town of Lipjan, south of Prishtina. They
were taken in by train.
Local LDK sources said the armor was unloaded in Lipjan, and then headed
towards the neighboring Shtime municipality.
Kosova Information Center
|
