SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General strongly condemns today’s violence between Kosovo Albanians and Kosovo Serbs in Mitrovica, Lipljan, Pec, and Gnjilane, which has reportedly left at least seven people dead and hundreds injured.  Preliminary reports indicate that several KFOR soldiers and UNMIK international civilian police are among the casualties.

He urges all parties involved to bring an immediate halt to the violence, which jeopardizes the stability of Kosovo and the security of all its people.

He expresses his full support for the efforts of his Special Representative and the rest of the international community, and calls on local authorities to help return the situation to normal, and bring to justice those responsible for the violence.

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