North Kosovo

A standoff between ethnic Albanian protesters and police officers erupted on Sunday in Kosovo's divided town of Mitrovica.

At least twenty people were hurt as the police was trying to disperse the hundreds-strong crowd attacking a renewed Serbian blockade at a bridge across the Ibar river, Macedonian daily Kurir reports, citing Kosovo police spokesman Avni Zahiti.

BELGRADE - Head of the Serbian government office for Kosovo Marko Djuric has condemned the protests in Kosovo on Sunday and stressed that they had been directed against peace, cohabitation and normal relations between the Serbs and Albanians, the office for Kosovo has stated.

Police, demonstrators injured during riot in southern KM

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA -- During Sunday's protests and clashes in the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica near the main bridge, 13 policemen and six demonstrators were injured.

The protest against Serb barricades on Mitrovica’s main bridge turned violent as Kosovo Albanians threw stones and torched cars, prompting police to respond with tear gas.

Kosovo Police, who were backed up by EU police, said 13 officers and 21 protesters were injured in what began as a peaceful demonstration in the ethnically divided town.

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Several people have been injured and a number of cars set on fire in the riots that broke out during the protest of ethnic Albanians at the southern side of the main bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica on Sunday, over the Peace Park being built at the bridge.

BELGRADE - Head of the Serbian government's Office for Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) Marko Djuric said Sunday that Serbia's negotiations with the European Union will not be conditioned by the actions of Pristina and stressed that the time has come for the community of Serb municipalities to be formed.

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Zeljko Bojic, regional head of the operative Kosovo police, has said that the night was peaceful after the removal of a barricade on the bridge between northern and southern Kosovska Mitrovica.

Bojic said that the police presence in the city will be stepped up.

Thaci blasts "flower box barricade" in K. Mitrovica

PRIŠTINA -- Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has expressed "deep disappointment over the shameful act of placing of barricades on the bridge in (Kosovska) Mitrovica."

In a statement issued on Thursday, Thaci said he spoke on behalf of his government, and added:

PRISTINA - Kfor has welcomed the removal of a barricade from the Kosovska Mitrovica bridge as a positive step that can serve the purpose of reconciliation, and pledged that it will work hard to support the dialogue and the democratic talks leading to stability in Kosovo.

Barricade removed, bridge remains closed to traffic

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA -- KFOR has welcomed the removal of a barricade built on the main bridge in Kosovska Mitrovica as a positive step that can be beneficial to reconciliation.