Shots fired at Kosovo police units in 3 separate incidents

BELGRADE, Serbia

Kosovo authorities said late Saturday that in three incidents, shots were fired from different locations at police units that were on official duty near northern towns.

"Individuals from certain criminal groups who blocked several roads in the north of the country, from different locations shot at police units that were on official duty near the Gazivode lake dam, on the way to the border to the Brnjak crossing with Serbia,” said police

"Police units in self-defense were forced to respond with firearms to criminal persons/groups, who retreated and moved away in an unknown direction. Also, according to information from police units on the ground, gunshots were heard in several different locations," it said.

There is no official information about injuries or damages.

Kosovo police previously announced the closure of the two border crossings in the north with Serbia because of security reasons.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Saturday that Belgrade will officially request NATO's peacekeepers, known as KFOR, to let it deploy the Serbian army and police in Kosovo, in accordance with a UN resolution.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, responding to Vucic, said Kosovo will respond to aggression.

"We don't want conflict, we want peace and progress, but we will respond to aggression with all the strength we have," Kurti said.

Kosovo, predominantly inhabited by Albanians, broke from Serbia in 1999 and declared independence in 2008. But Serbia has not recognized the independence and sees its former province as a part of its territory.

Tensions between the two flared last month when Kosovo attempted to require ethnic Serbs to change their old car plates that date before 1999. The decision led ethnic Serbs in Kosovo to withdraw from all central and local institutions, but late last month a deal was reached to end the dispute.

Meanwhile, Kosovo postponed snap local elections in four northern municipalities, which were due later this month, due to security concerns.

President Vjosa Osmani said the decision was taken following political consultations and the polls will now be held in April.

Earlier this week, some election centers were damaged and shooting was heard in those areas, raising fears of escalation.