Kosovo government

Stone-throwing protesters attacked the government building on Saturday and a fire broke out on central Mother Theresa Square amid clashes with police who fired tear gas as anger flared at one of the largest protests in Kosovo since it declared independence in 2008.

Striking Trepca miners on Friday announced that they were suspending further strike action for a month, to give the government time to decide the future of the complex.

The temporary suspension of the strike was decided following negotiations between the miners and the manager of Trepca, Ahmet Tmava.

PRISTINA - The Kosovo government said Tuesday that the Mining, Metallurgical and Chemical Combine Trepca was "Kosovo's property" and that any attempt to create confusion that it was allegedly given up was malicious.

The Kosovo government's announcement on Monday that it was postponing a decision on the final fate of the Trepca mining complex has been met with protests.

A student-led protest took place in central Pristina on Tuesday under the slogan "Give us Trepca, take Isa [Mustafa]," referring to Prime Minister Isa Mustafa.

Serbs to be included in Trepca decision-making - report

PRISTINA -- Albanian language daily Koha Ditore writes on Tuesday that the Kosovo government has abandoned the intention to turn Trepca into a public company.

The Pristina-based newspaper adds that a possible change in the status of the mining company will be decided only with the consent of Serbs.

PRISTINA - The Kosovo assembly has passed a bill amending the law on reorganising certain public enterprises and introducing changes to their property - however, the bill does not include the Mining, Metallurgical and Chemical Combine Trepca.

Sixty-four assembly members voted for the bill late Monday, four voted against, while two abstained.

BRUSSEL- European Parliament (EP) rapporteur on Serbia David McAllister said Monday that Serbia should not insist on Kosovo abandoning the idea of nationalizing the Trepca mine as a condition for the dialogue on the normalization of Belgrade-Pristina relations.

Vladeta Kostic, the candidate of the Belgrade-backed Civic Initiative "Srpska", was elected as the new mayor of Gracanica on Sunday with 65 per cent of the votes.

A vote in the Kosovo Assembly intended to partially privatise the Trepca mine complex, with the government of Kosovo holding the majority of the shares, was postponed just before the start of the parliamentary session on Monday.

The mine complex was Kosovo's most profitable conglomerate during the Yugoslav period before falling into disrepair.

Controversial draft law on Trepca withdrawn

PRISTINA, BELGRADE -- The assembly of Kosovo will not discuss a law concerning the Trepca mining complex on Monday, it has been announced in Pristina.