Monday, February 18, 2008

Let the Games Begin!

There were several large protests in Serbian enclaves and North Mitrovica today with thousands of Serbs in anti-independence demonstrations.  The protests ended peacefully with no reported incidents.  In an unusual show of solidarity, the three major political parties in Serbia have called for massive protests on Thursday.  Some Serbian KPS officers have put themselves under the jurisdiction of Belgrade in protest against the independence declaration.
Most businesses are closed today in an expected three days of celebrations, possibly starting counting today as the first real day.  Essentially everything except for restaurants and larger supermarkets are closed and in the morning the streets were nearly as empty as they were following the March 2004 riots...after a wild night of fireworks and gunfire it is very eerie! Yesterday, two people were injured by celebratory gunfire.  An on-duty KPS police officer was shot in the hand and another person was shot in the head by stray bullets.  Today, shell casings from AK-47s and even Luger 9mm could be found littering the streets of Pristina.
Naturally Kosovo is all over the news.  If you don't know what's going on, you are living under a rock!!!  But here is some of the latest and greatest from the world's newest (somewhat recognized) nation!

MTCowgirl's Interesting Articles/Commentary...
Other Kosovo News...