by Vedat Xhymshiti, Friday, October 21, 2011 – Zubin Potok, Kosovo.
The KFOR troops were trying to disperse a crowd of up to 500 protesters near the main barricade at Zubin Potok, but only succeeded in forcing them back a matter of metres until the gas dispersed before returning, the reporter said.
 |
| NATO troops of the Portuguese contingent, removing the barbed wire, at the entrance of the Zupce village, on Friday, October 21, 2011. Photo / Vedat Xhymshiti
|
Kosovo’s Koha vision channel showed footage of scuffles between heavily protected KFOR troops and Serb protesters at the Zupce barricade, which KFOR had to pass to get to Zubin Potok.
The troops were seen using pepper spray against the most militant protesters, who sprayed them with fire extinguishers in return, creating clouds of gas that looked like thick smoke.
The EU rule of law mission Eulex, which was carrying out the operation to remove the roadblocks jointly with Kfor, said “barricades were removed and vehicle check points set up” around the Brnjak border crossing.
“There have been some minor incidents,” it added without giving any details other than to say some people were briefly detained.
Just minutes ago, two KFOR convoys of at least 50 vehicles had moved towards the Brnjak border crossing.
“Go home, otherwise we will be obliged to use force,” a KFOR representative said in Serbian over a public address system. Protesters on the barricade at Zubin Potok stressed that they would remain but not resort to violence.
