Two days after tensions, calm situation in northern Kosovo municipalities

Veton Elshani of Kosovo Police said the situation in the north is stable and that police officials are continuing to stay close to the Zvecan municipality building of Leposaviqi and Zubin Potok. The one who added that there were no incidents during the night.

On May 26th, in these three local Serb municipalities clashed with the Kosovo Police, which assisted the new Albanian mayors to enter their offices. The buildings of these municipalities were used in advance by Serb parallel structures.

Police used shock bombs and tear gas to disperse protesters, meanwhile local Serbs threw stones at police officers.

There were gunshots in Zvecan.

Several police cars were burned down, while five policemen were injured during the clashes.

Authorities in Kosovo have defended their decision to have young northern mayors enter their offices.

But the international factor named going to municipalities in the north of new mayors as “forced intervention”, condemning Pristina's actions.

The United States has urged the Government of Kosovo to refrain from other <x0 operations that could increase tensions and promote violence”.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that these actions would result in consequences in bilateral US-Kosovo reports.

Kosovo's actions have also been condemned by the European Union, the states of the QUINT ( The US, United Kingdom, Italy and France, meanwhile, has called on both sides to resolve disputes through dialogue.

Serbia has raised its forces' combat readiness to the highest level following riots in the north. Meanwhile, the Serbian List, the main party of Serbs in Kosovo, has asked Belgrade to cut off dialogue with Pristina, which is mediated by Brussels.

In the four municipalities in northern Kosovo, four new Albanian mayors were elected in the 23 April local elections, as Serb parties did not participate in these extraordinary elections.

The elections were held following the chairmanship's resignation from the ranks of the Serbian List ʹ the largest party of Kosovo Serbs in November last year.

This party abandoned all Kosovo institutions due to the Government's decision in Pristina to conduct the process of reregistering cars with Serbian illegal license plates.

The elections were boycotted by the majority Serb population in the area, which now does not accept the results, respectively.

Turnout in the April elections was 3.47 percent of the total number of registered voters. / REL/