Serbs in Kosovo clash with police as ethnic tensions flare - Reuters

MITROVICA, Kosovo Dec 11 (Reuters) - Serb protesters successful bluish Kosovo blocked main roads for a 2nd time connected Sunday pursuing a nightime speech of occurrence with constabulary aft the apprehension of a erstwhile Serb policeman, amid rising tensions betwixt authorities and Kosovo's Serb minority.

In caller weeks Serbs successful bluish Kosovo, a hotbed of Serb nationalism, person responded with convulsive absorption to moves by Pristina that they spot arsenic anti-Serb.

EULEX, the European Union ngo tasked with patrolling bluish Kosovo, said a stun grenade was thrown connected 1 of its armoured vehicles connected Saturday evening, but nary 1 was injured.

Josep Borrell, EU overseas argumentation chief, warned the bloc volition not tolerate unit against members of its mission.

"#EU volition not tolerate attacks connected @EULEXKosovo oregon usage of violent, transgression acts successful the north. Barricades indispensable beryllium removed instantly by groups of Kosovo Serbs. Calm indispensable beryllium restored," helium wrote connected Twitter.

The latest protests were triggered by the apprehension of a erstwhile constabulary serviceman connected Saturday. He was portion of a wide resignation of Serbs from the unit past month, aft Pristina said it would necessitate Serbs to scrap Serbian licence plates dating to earlier the 1998-99 Kosovo War that led to independence.

For a 2nd time connected Sunday, trucks and different heavy-duty vehicles blocked respective main roads starring to 2 borderline crossings with Serbia. Both crossings were closed for traffic.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has asked NATO's ngo KFOR to region the barricades.

"We telephone KFOR to warrant the state of question (and region roadblocks)...KFOR is asking for much clip to decorativeness this ... truthful we are waiting," Kurti said.

Late connected Saturday Kosovo constabulary said they came nether occurrence successful antithetic locations adjacent to a water bordering Serbia. The unit said it had to instrumentality occurrence successful self-defence. There were nary contiguous reports of injuries.

EU PLAN IN DANGER

Police successful Pristina said erstwhile policeman Dejan Pantic was arrested for allegedly attacking authorities offices, smashing the windows of the predetermination committee offices, and constabulary officers and predetermination officials connected Tuesday.

Serb mayors successful bluish Kosovo municipalities, on with section judges and immoderate 600 constabulary officers, resigned past period successful protestation implicit a authorities determination to regenerate Belgrade-issued car licence plates with ones issued by Pristina.

On his Instagram page, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic said "there volition beryllium nary surrender," successful Kosovo, but added Belgrade "will proceed the combat with each ineligible means, for peace."

On Saturday, Vucic said Belgrade would inquire KFOR to fto Serbia deploy troops and constabulary successful Kosovo, though helium acknowledged determination was nary accidental of support being granted.

"We bash not question conflict, but dialog and peace. But fto maine beryllium clear: the Republic of Kosovo volition support itself - forcefully and decisively," Kurti said successful effect to Vucic's comments.

Kosovo declared independency from Serbia successful 2008 with the backing of the West, pursuing the 1998-99 warfare successful which NATO intervened to support Albanian-majority Kosovo.

Last July section Serbs acceptable up barricades to entity to a determination that would oblige them to use for documents and car licence plates issued by Kosovan institutions.

Kosovo and Serbia are holding talks successful Brussels to effort to normalise relations and the EU has already presented a plan.

Additional reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic, Florion Goga and Ognen Teofilovski; Editing by Susan Fenton and Ros Russell

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