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Violent unrest in Kosovo (a United Nations-administrated province of Serbia officially called Kosovo and Metohija) broke out on March 17, 2004. Serbian communities and cultural sites were attacked, leading to the worst loss of life and destruction of property since the 1999 Kosovo War. The violence was subsequently blamed by the UN on Albanian extremists. (BBC) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Kosovo and Metohia (Serbian: Косово и Метохија / Kosovo i Metohija, Albanian: Kosovë / Kosova), in English most often called just Kosovo, is a province of Serbia. ... The United Nations Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK is an interim civilian administration of the Serbian province (as part of Serbia and Montenegro) called Kosovo (officially Kosovo and Metohia), under the authority of the United Nations. ... Serbia and Montenegro  â€“ Serbia    â€“ Kosovo and Metohia        (UN administration)    â€“ Vojvodina  â€“ Montenegro Official language Serbian1 Capital Belgrade Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % water  88,361 km²  n/a Population  â€“ Total (2002)     (without Kosovo)  â€“ Density  7. ... Kosovo (known in Albanian as Kosova, in Serbian as Косово и Метохија / Kosovo i Metohija, and in English simply as Kosovo) is a province in southern Serbia. ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (77th in Leap years). ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday of the Common Era, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The term Kosovo War or Kosovo Conflict is often used to describe two sequential and at times parallel armed conflicts (a civil war followed by an international war) in the southern Serbian province called Kosovo (officially Kosovo and Metohia), part of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. ...

Events in Kosovo

Ethnic tensions and territorial dispute have been a major problem in Kosovo for many years and sparked the 1999 Kosovo War. Since the end of the war, the province has been administered by the UN under the auspices of UNMIK, with security provided by the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR). 1999 is a common year starting on Friday of the Common Era, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The term Kosovo War or Kosovo Conflict is often used to describe two sequential and at times parallel armed conflicts (a civil war followed by an international war) in the southern Serbian province called Kosovo (officially Kosovo and Metohia), part of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. ... This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... The United Nations Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK is an interim civilian administration of the Serbian province (as part of Serbia and Montenegro) called Kosovo (officially Kosovo and Metohia), under the authority of the United Nations. ... Pocket badge of the KFOR The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is a NATO-led international force responsible for establishing and maintaining security in Kosovo. ...

Between 150,000-250,000 Serbs and Roma fled the province in the immediate aftermath of the war. [1][2]. Those that remained organized themselves into enclaves guarded by peacekeeping forces. Low-level violence continued after the war, with 2000 non-Albanians and Albanian moderates being murdered or kidnapped, presumably by Albanian extremists. Non-Albanian minorities in Kosovo were subjected to "persistent intimidation and harassment" (in the words of Human Rights Watch), though the level of violence is reported to have declined somewhat since the end of the war. There have also been repeated attacks on Serbian Orthodox churches, shrines and other cultural monuments, with over a hundred being destroyed or damaged. Clashes have also broken out between Serbs and Albanians in the largely Serb-inhabited north of Kosovo, with Albanians claiming to be harassed by Serbs who have been chased out of their homes and taken refuge north of the Ibar River. Serbs (in the Serbian language Срби, Srbi) are a south Slavic people living chiefly in Serbia and Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. ... Roma is: The Latin, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian and Spanish name for the Italian city of Rome. ... Kosovo Serb Enclaves are the few remaining areas of the Serbian province of Kosovo where Serbs, Roma and other non-Albanians live. ... Early history The Serbs migrated to the Balkans during the reign of Byzantine emperor Heraclius (610-641). ... The Ibar river is a river in southern Serbia and Montenegro, with a total length of 276 km (171 miles). ...

The latest unrest began on March 15 with the drive-by shooting of an 18-year-old Serb, Jovica Ivić, in the village of Čaglavica in the central region of Kosovo. Local Serbs from the village staged demonstrations and blocked traffic in protest at the shooting. March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (75th in Leap years). ...

On March 16, three Albanian children drowned in the Ibar River in the village of Čabar, near the Serb community of Zubin Potok. A fourth boy survived. It was alleged that he and his friends had been chased into the river by Serbs, presumably in revenge for the shooting of Ivić the previous day. The truth of this allegation is unclear and is being investigated by local police; according to a United Nations spokesman, the surviving child denied it. (B92) March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (76th in Leap years). ... The United Nations Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK is an interim civilian administration of the Serbian province (as part of Serbia and Montenegro) called Kosovo (officially Kosovo and Metohia), under the authority of the United Nations. ...

The following day thousands of Kosovo Albanians, protesting against the boys' deaths, gathered at the south end of the bridge across the Ibar at Kosovska Mitrovica, which divides the Serbian and Albanian districts of the town. A large crowd of Serbs gathered at the north end to prevent the Albanians from crossing. Peacekeepers from the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) blockaded the bridge, using tear gas, rubber bullets and stun grenades to keep the crowds apart. However, gunmen on both sides opened fire with submachine guns and grenades, killing at least eight people (six Albanians and two Serbs) and wounding over 300. Eleven peacekeepers were also injured, two seriously. Mitrovica (Косовска Митровица; Albanian Mitrovica or Mitrovicë) is a city located in the north of Kosovo, at 42. ... The flag of NATO NATO 2002 Summit The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), sometimes called North Atlantic Alliance, Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for defence collaboration established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, D.C., on April 4, 1949. ... Pocket badge of the KFOR The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is a NATO-led international force responsible for establishing and maintaining security in Kosovo. ...

The violence continued on March 18 with further demonstrations in many localities across Kosovo, notably at Čaglavica again and also in Kosovska Mitrovica, Lipljan, Obilic and Pristina. The casualty toll at the end of the day was stated to be at least 31 dead and 600 injured. (BBC) March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... Prishtinë/Prishtina (Albanian indefinite/definite form) or Priština (Приштина) (Serbian) is the capital city of Kosovo, a landlocked province of Serbia located at 42°65′ N 21°17′ E. It is estimated that the current population of Prishtina is as high as 500,000. ...

Reports on March 19 lowered the death toll from 31 to 28 and also counted 600 injured including 61 peacekeepers and 55 police officers.[3] U.N. spokeswoman Isabella Karlowitz said 110 houses and 16 churches were destroyed. She also reported that around 3,600 people had been made homeless by the violence, mostly Serbs but also Roma and Ashkali. (Reuters) March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... The Roma people (pronounced rahma, singular Rom, sometimes Rroma, and Rrom) along with the closely related Sinti people are commonly known as Gypsies in English, and as Tsigany in most of Europe. ... Ashkali (also Aschkali and Hashkali) are Albanian language speaking ethnic minority of Kosovo. ...

Attacks on Kosovo Serbs

The violence quickly spread to other parts of Kosovo, with Kosovo Serb communities and religious and cultural symbols attacked by crowds of Albanians. These included:

• Belo Polje - Serb returnees attacked
• Čaglavica - Serb houses set on fire;
• Kosovo Polje - Serb houses and a hospital set on fire;
• Lipljan - gunfights between KFor and Albanians, four Serbs killed, remaining Serbs took refugee in Orthodox Church which was attacked;
• Peć - rioting in which UN offices were attacked; one Albanian killed by UN police.
• Priština - all remaining Serbs evacuated or forced out
• Gnjilane - all remaining Serbs evacuated or forced out
• Cernica, Serb village near Gnjilane - three Serbs wounded
• Svinjare, Serb village near Kosovska Mitrovica - burnt houses
• Obilic - Serb houses burnt, all Serbs chased out
• Vitina - Attack on church prevented by Greek KFor troops, Orthodox priest injured
• Drajkovce, village near Štrpce - two Serbs killed

In a statement on March 18, the Serbian Orthodox Church reported that a number of its churches and shrines in Kosovo had been damaged or destroyed by rioters. These included: Kosovo Polje (Косово поље, Albanian: Fushë Kosovë) is a town located in Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro, at 42. ... Peć (Пећ; Albanian Pejë or Peja) is a city located inKosovo at 42. ... Prishtinë/Prishtina (Albanian indefinite/definite form) or Priština (Приштина) (Serbian) is the capital city of Kosovo, a landlocked province of Serbia located at 42°65′ N 21°17′ E. It is estimated that the current population of Prishtina is as high as 500,000. ... Gnjilane (Serbian:Гњилане Albanian: Gjilan) is a city located in Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro, at 42. ... Vitina (Viti in Albanian) is the capital of the Municipality of Vitina in Kosovo. ... Serbian enclave in Kosovo. ... March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... The Serbian Orthodox Church Serbian Cyrillic (Српска православна црква; SPC, SOC) is a body of some 11 million Orthodox Christians united under the Serb Patriarch who includes Archbishop of Peć and Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci in his title. ...

Prizren:

• Our Lady of Ljeviš Cathedral (Bogorodica Ljeviška), 12th century was burned down on March 17
• Church of Saint Salvation (Sveti Spas), 14th century
• St. Hieromartyr George's Cathedral (Sv. velikomučenika Djordja), 1887 housing the 14th century icon of Mary and an 18th century iconostasis
• Monastery of Saint Archangels from the 14th century
• Church of St. George Runović, 15th century with 16th century iconostas gates
• Raška-Prizren Archdiocese
• Building of the Sts. Cyrill and Methodius Orthodox Seminary, 1880, sacked

Peć:

• Church of St. John the Baptist (Svetog Jovana Preteče i Krstitelja) set on fire March 17 in Pećka Banja village
• Belo Polje village church of St. Nicholas, 19th century

Djakovica: Church of Our Lord's Ascension (Uspenja Gospodnjeg), 19th century, torched along with the parochial residence on March 17. Reports of Albanians clearing the ruins of the Church of the Holy Trinity, destroyed in 1999

Uroševac: Church of St. Tzar Uroš

Kosovo Polje:

• Saint Nicholas in Kosovo Polje town, 19th century
• Bresje village church of St. Catherine, 19th century

Gnjilane: Church of St. Nicholas, 1861

Pristina: Church of St. Nicholas, 19th century, damaged and sacked

Vucitrn: Church of St. Elijah, burned down

Southern Kosovska Mitrovica: Church of Saint Sava set afire in the morning of March 18, adjoining Orthodox cemetery desecrated

Srbica: Devič Monastery, nuns evacuated by Danish soldiers, monastery pillaged and torched

?timlje: Church of St. Archangel Michael set on fire on March 19

Orahovac: Bela Crkva and Brnjak village churches burnt

Vitina: Two destroyed churches, in town and in village of Donja Slapa?nica

Obilić: Church set afire

Some of these locations were ostensibly under the protection of KFOR at the time. View of Prizren Prizren (Serbian Cyrillic Призрен; Albanian Prizreni) is an historic city located Kosovo (officially Kosovo ) at 42. ... A cathedral is a Christian church building, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy (such as the Roman Catholic Church or the Anglican churches), which serves as the central church of a bishopric. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... (13th century - 14th century - 15th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was that century which lasted from 1301 to 1400. ... 1887 is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ... (13th century - 14th century - 15th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 14th century was that century which lasted from 1301 to 1400. ... The Savior Not Made By Hands (1410s, by Andrei Rublev) An icon (from Greek εικων, eikon, image) is an image, picture, or representation; it is a sign or likeness that stands for an object by signifying or representing it, or by analogy, as in semiotics; in computers an icon is a... In Christianity and Islam, Mary (Judæo-Aramaic מרים Maryām Bitter; Septuagint Greek Μαριαμ, Mariam, Μαρια, Maria; Arabic: Maryem, مريم) was the mother of Jesus of Nazareth who at the time of his conception was the betrothed wife of Joseph, awaiting the customary Home-Taking that would permit them to start living together... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Iconostasis of Elias prophet church, Yaroslavl In Eastern Christianity an iconostasis (the plural is iconostases, whose last syllable rhymes with ease) is a wall of icons, religious paintings, separating the nave from the sanctuary in a church. ... Buddhist monastery near Tibet A monastery is the habitation of monks. ... (14th century - 15th century - 16th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 15th century was that century which lasted from 1401 to 1500. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Saint Methodius was a bishop of Great Moravia (Moravia) (born Thessaloniki, Greece, 826; he died in the (unknown) capital of Great Moravia, April 6, 885). ... 1880 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Peć (Пећ; Albanian Pejë or Peja) is a city located inKosovo at 42. ... Djakovica or Ðakovica (Serbian Cyrillic Ђаковица; in Albanian Gjakova or Gjakovë) is a city located in Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro, at 42. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article concerns the holy Trinity of Christianity. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday of the Common Era, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... UroÅ¡evac (Урошевац, Albanian: Ferizaj) is a town located in the province of Kosovo in Serbia and Montenegro at 42. ... Kosovo Polje (Косово поље, Albanian: Fushë Kosovë) is a town located in Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro, at 42. ... Saint Nicholas, also known as Nikolaus in Germany and Sinterklaas (a contracted form of Sint Nicolaas) in the Netherlands and Flanders, is the common name for the historical Saint Nicholas of Myra, who lived in 4th century Byzantine Anatolia, (now in modern Turkey) and had a reputation for secret gift... There are six St. ... Gnjilane (Serbian:Гњилане Albanian: Gjilan) is a city located in Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro, at 42. ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ... Vučitrn (Вучитрн; Albanian: Vushtrri), is the name of a town, which is the seat of a municipality, situated in north-eastern part of the province of Serbia called Kosovo. ... Elijah (אֱלִיָּהוּ Whose/my God is the Lord, Standard Hebrew Eliyyáhu, Tiberian Hebrew ʾĔliyyāhû), also Elias (NT Greek Ἠλίας), is a mythical prophet of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament. ... Mitrovica (Косовска Митровица; Albanian Mitrovica or Mitrovicë) is a city located in the north of Kosovo, at 42. ... Saint Sava Saint Sava (1175 or 1176 - January 12, 1235 or 1236), originally the prince Rastko Nemanjic (son of the Serbian ruler and founder of the Serbian medieval state Stefan Nemanja and brother of Stefan Prvovencani, first Serbian king), is the first Serb archbishop (1219-1233) and the most important... March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... Srbica (Serbian: Србица; Albanian: Skenderaj) is a city in Kosovo located at 42° 44′ 48″ N 020° 47′ 19″ E. It is the largest city in Drenica. ... Devič is a female Serb Orthodox Monastery in Drenica, near Srbica, in Serbian province of Kosovo-Metohia. ... Guido Renis archangel Michael (in the Capuchin church of Sta. ... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... Orahovac (Ораховац) is a town located in Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro, at 42. ... Vitina (Viti in Albanian) is the capital of the Municipality of Vitina in Kosovo. ...

Attacks on UN personnel

In an apparent attempt to blame Serbs, Albanians sprayed a UN police patrol with fire in Podujevo, killing two policemen, one of whom was from Ghana and the other a local Albanian. Although the shooters were said to be shouting in Serbian, they were later heard speaking instinctively in Albanian when shot back and wounded by the policemen. KFOR later raided an Albanian farm, made four arrests, found one of the culprit's bodies and the murder weapons. A tip off was the fact that Podujevo was no longer home to any Serbs following their expulsion by the Albanians in 1999. (Telegraph) The United Nations Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK is an interim civilian administration of the Serbian province (as part of Serbia and Montenegro) called Kosovo (officially Kosovo and Metohia), under the authority of the United Nations. ... Podujevo (Подујево; Albanian: Besiana), is the name of a town, the center of a municipality, situated in north-east of the province of Serbia called Kosovo (officially Kosovo and Metohia). ... The Serbian language is one of the standard versions of the Central-South Slavic diasystem, formerly (and still frequently) called Serbo-Croatian. ... 1999 is a common year starting on Friday of the Common Era, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

Serbian reaction

The events in Kosovo brought an immediate angry reaction on the streets of Serbia. On the evening of March 17, crowds gathered in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nis to demonstrate against the treatment of the Kosovo Serbs. Despite appeals for calm by Metropolitan Amfilohije of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the 17th century Bajrakli mosque was attacked and set on fire. Another mosque in the southern city of Nis was also attacked. Both buildings were extensively damaged but were saved from complete destruction by the intervention of police and firefighters. (F18 News) Belgrade (Serbian, Београд, Beograd   listen?), is the capital (2003–) of Serbia since 1404, Serbia and Montenegro and Yugoslavia (1918–2003). ... Motto: none Executive government Mayor (Gradonačelnik) City council (SkupÅ¡tina Grada) Mayor Maja Gojković Area 235. ... For other meanings of NIS try here. ... The Serbian Orthodox Church Serbian Cyrillic (Српска православна црква; SPC, SOC) is a body of some 11 million Orthodox Christians united under the Serb Patriarch who includes Archbishop of Peć and Metropolitan of Belgrade and Karlovci in his title. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... The Bajrakli Mosque (also spelled Bayrakli) is a mosque in Belgrade. ... A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... For other meanings of NIS try here. ...

The Serbian government publicly denounced the violence in Kosovo, but it has focussed criticism solely on the Albanian side. Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica gave a speech blaming organised Albanian separatists: "The events in northern Kosovo-Metohija reveal the true nature of Albanian separatism, its violent and terrorist nature .. [The government will] do all it can to stop the terror in Kosovo". (BBC) Kostunica strongly criticised the failure of NATO and the UN to prevent the violence, and called for a state of emergency to be imposed on Kosovo. Vojislav Koštunica [pronounced voy-ees-lahf kosh-TOON-ee-tsa] (born March 24, 1944) is the Prime Minister in the Government of Serbia and a lawyer from Serbia. ...

The Minister of Minority Rights of Serbia-Montenegro, Rasim Ljajić (Slavic Muslim) said "What is now happening in Kosovo confirms two things: that this is a collapse of the international mission, and a total defeat of the international community" (B92) Serbia and Montenegro (Serbian: Србија и Црна Гора / Srbija i Crna Gora, often abbreviated as SCG) is the name of the union of Serbia and Montenegro, two former Yugoslav republics united since 2003 in a loose confederation. ... Slavic Muslims are Slavs who observe the Islamic faith. ...

Nebojsa Covic, the Serbian government's chief negotiator on matters relating to Kosovo, was sent to Kosovska Mitrovica on March 18 in a bid to calm the situation there. Serbian security forces also guarded the internal border between Serbia proper and Kosovo in a bid to prevent demonstrators and paramilitaries from entering the province to foment further unrest.

International reaction

The international community was taken by surprise by the sudden upsurge in violence. Kosovo had been fairly quiet since the end of 1999, although there had been occasional small-scale ethnic clashes throughout the past five years and an ongoing tension between Serbs and Albanians. This had, however, largely gone unnoticed by the Western media since 1999.

KFOR troops closed Kosovo's borders with the remainder of Serbia-Montenegro and the UN suspended flights in and out of the province. NATO announced on March 18 that it would send another 1,000 troops - 750 of them from the United Kingdom - to reinforce the 18,500 troops already there. (BBC) (NATO) Serbia and Montenegro (Serbian: Србија и Црна Гора / Srbija i Crna Gora, often abbreviated as SCG) is the name of the union of Serbia and Montenegro, two former Yugoslav republics united since 2003 in a loose confederation. ... March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ...

The United Nations and European Union both appealed for calm, calling on local leaders to restrain their supporters. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urged both sides to cooperate with the peacekeeping forces but pointedly reminded the Kosovo Albanians that they had a responsibility "to protect and promote the rights of all people within Kosovo, particularly its minorities". The United Nations, or UN, is an international organization established in 1945 and now made up of 191 states. ... The United Nations Secretary-General is the head of the Secretariat, one of the principal divisions of the United Nations. ... Order: 7th Secretary-General Term of office: January 1, 1997–present Predecessor: Boutros Boutros-Ghali Successor: incumbent Born: April 8, 1938 Place of birth: Kumasi, Ghana Kofi Atta Annan (born April 8, 1938) is a Ghanian diplomat and the seventh and current Secretary-General of the United Nations. ...

An OSCE official in Austria called the events an orchestrated plan to drive out the remaining Serbs, while one anonymous UNMIK official reportedly referred to the event as Kosovo's Kristallnacht. The commander of NATO's South Flank, Admiral Gregory Johnson, said on March 19 that the violence verged on ethnic cleansing of Serbs by Albanians. (Reuters) On March 20, Kosovo's UN administrator, Harri Holkeri, told journalists that "Maybe the very beginning was spontaneous but after the beginning certain extremist groups had an opportunity to orchestrate the situation and that is why we urgently are working to get those perpetrators into justice." (BBC) The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an international organization for security. ... Kristallnacht, also known as Reichskristallnacht, Pogromnacht and in English as The Night of Broken Glass, was a massive nationwide pogrom in Germany and Austria on the night of November 9, 1938 (including early hours of the following day). ... The flag of NATO NATO 2002 Summit The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), sometimes called North Atlantic Alliance, Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for defence collaboration established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, D.C., on April 4, 1949. ...

According to Amnesty International, at least 19 people died -- 11 Albanians and eight Serbs -- and over 1,000 were injured while some 730 houses belonging to minorities, mostly Kosovo Serbs, as well as 36 Orthodox churches, monasteries and other religious and cultural sites were damaged or destroyed. In less than 48 hours, 4,100 minority community members were newly displaced, (more than the total of 3,664 that had returned throughout 2003), of whom 82 per cent were Serbs and the remaining 18 per cent included Roma and Ashkali as well as an estimated 350 Albanians from the Serb majority areas of N. Mitrovica/Mitrovice and Leposavic/Leposaviq.

Russia and Serbia-Montenegro called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, which condemned the violence. On March 19, the Russian Duma passed a resolution (397 to 0) calling for the return of Serbia-Montenegro's troops to the southern province. Russia condemned KFor and UNMIK's inabilities to stop the violence. (B92) Serbia and Montenegro (Serbian: Србија и Црна Гора / Srbija i Crna Gora, often abbreviated as SCG) is the name of the union of Serbia and Montenegro, two former Yugoslav republics united since 2003 in a loose confederation. ... A session of the Security Council in progress The United Nations Security Council is the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ... A Duma (Ду́ма in Russian) is any of various representative assemblies in modern Russia and Russian history. ...

The government of Albania has "come out strongly against the violent actions of the Albanian side" and is aiming to calm the violence, according to Holkeri (HS).

Reactions by Kosovo Albanian politicians

Kosovo Albanian politicians such as President Ibrahim Rugova and Prime Minister Bajram Rexhepi joined UN governor Harri Holkeri, NATO southern commander Gregory Johnson, and other KFOR officials in condemning the violence and appealing for peace in Kosovo (B92). President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, universities, and countries. ... Ibrahim Rugova Ibrahim Rugova (b. ... A prime minister may be either: the chief or leading member of the cabinet of the top-level government in a country having a parliamentary system of government; or the official, in countries with a semi-presidential system of government, appointed to manage the civil service and execute the directives... Bajram Rexhepi (b. ...

Hashim Thaci, the former KLA leader, "rejected ethnic division of the southern Serbian province and said independence is a pre-condition for stability in the region." (VOA). He has also said, "Kosovo, NATO and the West have not fought for Kosovo only for Albanians, nor for a Kosovo ruled by violence...Violence is not the way to solve problems, violence only creates problems" (B92). The KLA insignia The Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA or UÇK; Albanian: Ushtria Çlirimtare e Kosovës) was a group of Albanian militants which operated in Kosovo during the late 1990s. ...

Since then, both leaders have strengthened calls for an independent Kosovo.

External links

• Pictures of the violence and its aftermath
• News and news archive, pictures
  • Photo Story: Devastated Christian Orthodox Sites in Prizren
  • Pogrom of Serbs in Kosovo - photo gallery
• Albanian torching of Prizren