The Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA in English, UCK in Albanian) has claimed responsibility for the explosion Monday evening that damaged three UN vehicles. Supposedly disbanded after the end of the fighting, the group claimed responsibility via email although skeptics wonder if the claim is valid. The email claims that the bombing was revenge for the death of two Vetevendosje protestors on the 10th of February.
The next Vetevendosje protest is scheduled for the 3rd of March and according to the spokesperson, will be peaceful but aimed at those responsible for the deaths of the protestors. The spokesperson goes on to say that the group had nothing to do with the bombing and that the group "denounce violence that jeopardizes public safety". <soapbox>Right, that's why you paint-bombed the government and UNMIK HQ three months ago and most of your protests have ended when police used teargas. If that's not jeopardizing public safety, what is?! Oh and by the way, bringing Molotov cocktails to protests is not a good indication of peacefulness! So if you plan on throwing any more of those during your "peaceful" protest forgive me for being a bit skeptical :-P</soapbox>
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Explosion Destroys 3 UN Vehicles & 1 Civilian Vehicle
An explosion around 2145 hrs CET last night rocked a residential area behind the National Theatre. The explosion took place along the road that runs up to Germia park on one of the side streets near the old mosque. Three UN vehicles and one civilian vehicle were destroyed in the blast while windows in nearby shops were blown out. Fortunately there were no injuries reported. Police and KFOR have not yet finished the investigation but it is thought that a device with up to 1kg of explosives was set underneath one of the UN vehicles and detonated. The KPS spokesperson, Veton Elshani, said that it appeared that the UN Mission in Kosovo was the target of the attack. Kosovo PM Agim Ceku is reported to have arrived on the scene shortly after the explosion and condemned it as a "criminal act".
There was also a report in Ferizaj that two doors of an Albanian man's house were booby-trapped with hand grenades. KFOR removed the devices for later destruction. In Mitrovica, a hand grenade was rigged to a excavator that was parked near a gas station. The device was designed to go off when the machine moved but was found beforehand.
Meanwhile, over the weekend there were two explosions. One in Pristina near Hotel Baci, located on the outskirt of the bullring, and the other in an international police officer's accommodation in Zubin Potok. The explosion in Zubin Potok was rumored to not be an explosive device but some sort of firework. Not much has been reported about the explosion in Pristina other than the vehicle of a KPS officer may have been the target.
The new rounds of status negotiations are supposed to kick off tomorrow in Vienna. One senior Albanian negotiator has warned of a "new Balkan war" if self-rule is denied. This and with the Serbian delegation diametrically opposed to independence does not set a very good course for the conclusion of the talks. The Serbian parliament has overwhelmingly rejected the proposal from special envoy Ahtisaari.
There was also a report in Ferizaj that two doors of an Albanian man's house were booby-trapped with hand grenades. KFOR removed the devices for later destruction. In Mitrovica, a hand grenade was rigged to a excavator that was parked near a gas station. The device was designed to go off when the machine moved but was found beforehand.
Meanwhile, over the weekend there were two explosions. One in Pristina near Hotel Baci, located on the outskirt of the bullring, and the other in an international police officer's accommodation in Zubin Potok. The explosion in Zubin Potok was rumored to not be an explosive device but some sort of firework. Not much has been reported about the explosion in Pristina other than the vehicle of a KPS officer may have been the target.
The new rounds of status negotiations are supposed to kick off tomorrow in Vienna. One senior Albanian negotiator has warned of a "new Balkan war" if self-rule is denied. This and with the Serbian delegation diametrically opposed to independence does not set a very good course for the conclusion of the talks. The Serbian parliament has overwhelmingly rejected the proposal from special envoy Ahtisaari.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Happy Valentine's Day :)
Thankful Kosovo is not one of those places where radical Muslim groups attack shops promoting the holiday (such as in Mumbai). Love is in the air and I'm sure the restaurants will be packed tonight with ladies toting bouquets of flowers (and maybe even a box of chocolates)! It's a nice sunny day too, even though a bit windy, but the weather is almost perfect for the holiday!
The UN is facing criticism for the deaths of the two protestors over the weekend. Official autopsy reports showed that the two men died of rubber bullet wounds to the head. Information has been released that it was Romanian SPU (Special Police Units) that fired rubber coated bullets into the crowd. PM Agim Ceku is continuing to say that police used excessive force during the protest but given the previous violent demonstrations and destruction of property that Vetevendosje has brought about, it may be hard to say that police should have acted differently.
It has been a pretty big surprise for most of us in the UN but the SRSG has formally asked the police commissioner, Stephen Curtis, to resign. However, from what I know, it was more told than asked. The SRSG, Joahim Ruecker, was not in Kosovo during the protests and says that he assessed the situation yesterday and that asking the commissioner to resign follows the principles of political accountability. Interestingly though, the SRSG (Harri Holkeri) did not resign following the March 2004 riots when many were calling for such action. Instead he remained in mission until May 2004 and then resigned due to "personal issues". In fact, I think this is the first time that someone has had to step down due to "political accountability".
The trial of Albin Kurti has begun. His detention time has been extended to 30-days by an international judge. Kurti is facing approximately six charges ranging from inciting violence to endangering UN personnel. The International Herald Tribune carries an article that describes why Kurti may be so popular with Albanians who face high unemployment and frustrations over the slow progress towards independence. However, what is interesting is that analysts believe that Kurti would never be satisfied unless society itself was "crashing down around his ears".
Meanwhile, a political war of words is waging between AAK (Haradinaj) and PDK (Thaci) over the possibility that AAK may have supported Vetevendosje by arranging buses of protestors to come from neighboring countries (Macedonia and Preshevo Valley). AAK officials rigorously deny the accusations that have supposedly been leveled by PDK leader Thaci. Thaci has so far refused to comment on the accusations of AAK members that he made statements eluding to the fact that AAK had organized foreign protestors to come to Pristina over the weekend.
The UN is facing criticism for the deaths of the two protestors over the weekend. Official autopsy reports showed that the two men died of rubber bullet wounds to the head. Information has been released that it was Romanian SPU (Special Police Units) that fired rubber coated bullets into the crowd. PM Agim Ceku is continuing to say that police used excessive force during the protest but given the previous violent demonstrations and destruction of property that Vetevendosje has brought about, it may be hard to say that police should have acted differently.
It has been a pretty big surprise for most of us in the UN but the SRSG has formally asked the police commissioner, Stephen Curtis, to resign. However, from what I know, it was more told than asked. The SRSG, Joahim Ruecker, was not in Kosovo during the protests and says that he assessed the situation yesterday and that asking the commissioner to resign follows the principles of political accountability. Interestingly though, the SRSG (Harri Holkeri) did not resign following the March 2004 riots when many were calling for such action. Instead he remained in mission until May 2004 and then resigned due to "personal issues". In fact, I think this is the first time that someone has had to step down due to "political accountability".
The trial of Albin Kurti has begun. His detention time has been extended to 30-days by an international judge. Kurti is facing approximately six charges ranging from inciting violence to endangering UN personnel. The International Herald Tribune carries an article that describes why Kurti may be so popular with Albanians who face high unemployment and frustrations over the slow progress towards independence. However, what is interesting is that analysts believe that Kurti would never be satisfied unless society itself was "crashing down around his ears".
Meanwhile, a political war of words is waging between AAK (Haradinaj) and PDK (Thaci) over the possibility that AAK may have supported Vetevendosje by arranging buses of protestors to come from neighboring countries (Macedonia and Preshevo Valley). AAK officials rigorously deny the accusations that have supposedly been leveled by PDK leader Thaci. Thaci has so far refused to comment on the accusations of AAK members that he made statements eluding to the fact that AAK had organized foreign protestors to come to Pristina over the weekend.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Great Questions!
I got two interesting questions in my email the other day. The first was would I feel safe in Kosovo if I wasn't with the UN and the second one was about unemployment and if it is visible...below is my answer. Thanks for the questions...they were really good!
I would like to come back to Kosovo after I leave just to see how it has fared after the status is determined. I don't discourage people from visiting although sometimes this situation is volatile. The events of this past weekend were tragic but it shows you just how quickly things can go wrong here when a large group of people are encouraged towards violence. I have been asking my mother to come visit me for a week just so she can see what it is like...it can be difficult to describe Kosovo at times. It's modern but it also kind of old fashioned.
Unemployment is very high. I've heard figures as high at 70% although sometimes it is reported at 50%...whatever it is, it is high and it is visible. Each day I pass men waiting on the corners of streets. They sit there in groups of 8-10 with a tractor hoping that someone will come hire them for a day of work. Not only is unemployment high but the people that are employed earn very little. The UN pays its workers quite well but that is because the idea of the jobs is temporary. A normal police officer will make 250 Euros a month and a teacher/doctor can make as little as 150 Euros. The economic picture of Kosovo is pretty depressing and I know many people are hoping that once the status is finalized, foreign investors will come in and things will get better...but that will probably take a long time.
Around 800 Serbs gathered in the town of Strpce near Brezovica to protest against the Ahtisaari proposal. The demonstration lasted about 30 minutes and was peaceful with no incidents reported.
As I mentioned yesterday, the blame game has commenced in Kosovo. Local media is calling for the resignation of UNMIK officials such as the police commissioner, Stephen Curtis, and the deputy commissioner (there are a couple from what I know so I'm not sure which one). A report on the events of the demonstration is expected in two weeks according to Kosovo PM Agim Ceku, who has been busy laying blame on the international police.
There are conflicting stories about the number of dead. Two have officially died of their wounds. Vetevendosje released information that a third seriously injured person had died but officials at Camp Bondsteel , KPS, and the Pristina University say that it is not true. Information has been released instead that a third person is in a coma.
Vetevendosje is promising more protests in the coming month. They state that their objective during the protest was not to target the government building or UNMIK but the "luxurious vehicles which are a materialization of the hard work of the people of Kosovo". If they knew anything about the UN vehicles...they'd quickly find out that they aren't luxurious nor were they purchased from money from Kosovo. Instead they were a donation from the country of Japan as part of their contribution to the Kosovo peacekeeping mission. As for the government official's vehicles, well, that may be another story but it still does not give Vetevendosje the right to destroy property, whatever they say the intended target is.
Finally, the local newspaper Epoke e Re carries an interesting tale about how an international police officer supposedly tried to kill Albin Kurti but a protestor was able to steal the officer's weapon. Um, right...
I would like to come back to Kosovo after I leave just to see how it has fared after the status is determined. I don't discourage people from visiting although sometimes this situation is volatile. The events of this past weekend were tragic but it shows you just how quickly things can go wrong here when a large group of people are encouraged towards violence. I have been asking my mother to come visit me for a week just so she can see what it is like...it can be difficult to describe Kosovo at times. It's modern but it also kind of old fashioned.
Unemployment is very high. I've heard figures as high at 70% although sometimes it is reported at 50%...whatever it is, it is high and it is visible. Each day I pass men waiting on the corners of streets. They sit there in groups of 8-10 with a tractor hoping that someone will come hire them for a day of work. Not only is unemployment high but the people that are employed earn very little. The UN pays its workers quite well but that is because the idea of the jobs is temporary. A normal police officer will make 250 Euros a month and a teacher/doctor can make as little as 150 Euros. The economic picture of Kosovo is pretty depressing and I know many people are hoping that once the status is finalized, foreign investors will come in and things will get better...but that will probably take a long time.
Around 800 Serbs gathered in the town of Strpce near Brezovica to protest against the Ahtisaari proposal. The demonstration lasted about 30 minutes and was peaceful with no incidents reported.
As I mentioned yesterday, the blame game has commenced in Kosovo. Local media is calling for the resignation of UNMIK officials such as the police commissioner, Stephen Curtis, and the deputy commissioner (there are a couple from what I know so I'm not sure which one). A report on the events of the demonstration is expected in two weeks according to Kosovo PM Agim Ceku, who has been busy laying blame on the international police.
There are conflicting stories about the number of dead. Two have officially died of their wounds. Vetevendosje released information that a third seriously injured person had died but officials at Camp Bondsteel , KPS, and the Pristina University say that it is not true. Information has been released instead that a third person is in a coma.
Vetevendosje is promising more protests in the coming month. They state that their objective during the protest was not to target the government building or UNMIK but the "luxurious vehicles which are a materialization of the hard work of the people of Kosovo". If they knew anything about the UN vehicles...they'd quickly find out that they aren't luxurious nor were they purchased from money from Kosovo. Instead they were a donation from the country of Japan as part of their contribution to the Kosovo peacekeeping mission. As for the government official's vehicles, well, that may be another story but it still does not give Vetevendosje the right to destroy property, whatever they say the intended target is.
Finally, the local newspaper Epoke e Re carries an interesting tale about how an international police officer supposedly tried to kill Albin Kurti but a protestor was able to steal the officer's weapon. Um, right...
Lighten Up for Lunch :)
It's time to lighten up a bit. The past weekend's event are kind of depressing so a couple of us decided to head out for a nice lunch downtown at the de Rada Brasserie (UCK Street #50 - 038 222 622). While the menu is not extensive, basically everything on it is nice. I had the parma ham, mozzarella, and tomato sandwich last time I visited and today I tried the linguini with ham, cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes. I even picked out what I am going to have next time when my friends got their dishes of fried chicken, red peppers, and rice. In addition to the nice dishes, the coffee and tea is excellent and the desserts (cheesecake, lemon tart, or tiramisu) are deliciously wicked.
The restaurant itself is in the style of a typical brasserie or a cafe on the streets of Paris. The walls are tastefully lined with bottles of wine and old black & white photos. The interior of the restaurant can get a bit smoky. There were vents on the ceiling but maybe they were not switched on because my clothes still reek of smoke :o) But I think if you don't mind the smoke too much and are looking for a nice place to sit down and relax with friends, de Rada is the perfect place to do it. The wine menu is extensive, the service is good, and the acoustics are balanced enough that you don't have to shout at the person across from you :o)
The restaurant itself is in the style of a typical brasserie or a cafe on the streets of Paris. The walls are tastefully lined with bottles of wine and old black & white photos. The interior of the restaurant can get a bit smoky. There were vents on the ceiling but maybe they were not switched on because my clothes still reek of smoke :o) But I think if you don't mind the smoke too much and are looking for a nice place to sit down and relax with friends, de Rada is the perfect place to do it. The wine menu is extensive, the service is good, and the acoustics are balanced enough that you don't have to shout at the person across from you :o)
Monday, February 12, 2007
Filing Taxes & A Summary of the Weekend
On a slightly lighter note than the events this weekend, I have finished filing my 2006 taxes with TurboTax Online. The software is really easy to use and you can pick the amount of help you need from $20-50 for the software and e-filing. I've done my own taxes online since I came to Kosovo and TurboTax is the best! The software knows all the rules about foreign income exclusions and will input your information in the correct lines on the 2555 form. Why should you pay a whole bunch of money for a CPA in the US to do your taxes when you can do it yourself online?! (I know this is a shameless plug for the software, I don't get anything...but it's so easy that I hate to see people wasting their money on filing taxes!)
Summary of the Weekend Events
According to UN sources, the demonstration on Saturday had approximately 4000 people. International and local police sealed off the area near the government building, not allowing access to PISG or UNMIK compounds. Violence broke out when protestors tried to get past the police barricade. Stones, sticks, and even a Molotov cocktail were thrown and some protestors tried to use a minibus to break the police line. 70 people were treated for mostly tear gas inhalation although six people did suffer from more serious injuries. Two people so far have died due to injuries sustained during the protest (identified as Man Balaj Arben Xheladini, aged 30 and 35 respectively). A third person is also rumored to have died but there is no verification. Five international police officers and six KPS officers were injured in the protest. Three UN vehicles were damaged and there were reports of damage to some buildings, but the locations were not specified.
14 protestors were arrested, 12 of which were sentenced to jail time of between 15-40 days. The leader of Vetevendosje was also arrested but but he has not yet been sentenced. Police did receive an extension of the time they are allowed to hold Kurti in custody. Local police raided Vetevendosje's headquarters around Kosovo and confiscated computer equipment and documents. Some people were arrested for resisting but a few were later released due to the fact that they were underage.
On Sunday, approximately 200 people held a candlelight ceremony at the government building in remembrance of the two men that passed away. The ceremony was organized by Vetevendosje. The funeral for Arben Xhelandini will be held today in Dragodan at 1600 hours.
The blame game is going on strong. Some people blame the UN, others blame the local government. Some Albanians in Ferizaj stole the UN flag from the municipal building and burned it. Kosovo PM Ceku has made statements to the effect that police used excessive force and that the fault lies with aggressive security at the protest.
The KLA war veterans association is calling for the resignation of the Interior Minister, the police commissioner, and the deputy commissioner. The AAK (Ramush Haradinaj's party) expressed regret over the violence and the "tendency of some individuals to damage Kosovo institutions", a comment directly aimed at Kurti's group. The Unity Team (Kosovo negotiators) blame Kurti for creating the situation.
Albin Kurti, the leader of the Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) movement, said that the police provoked the protestors. His statement was that there were so many rows of police that they were letting the crowd know that "they were prepared to intervene". One must wonder then, if Kurti figured this out...why the heck did he push the people to try to break through the police lines? He is reported to have made statements in front of the crowd to the gist of 'they aren't listening to us, lets go destroy things to show them we mean business'. Kurti has previously refused to meet with a police representative before the protests saying he would not participate in any meeting where an UNMIK representative was present. He goes on to say after the protests that he does not feel guilty but "the Police and regime should feel guilty".
At 1600 hours, news emerged that the Kosovo Interior Minister, Fatmir Rexhepi, has resigned following criticism for the handling of this weekend's protests. Rexhepi said he felt a "moral responsibility" for the response by the police which has been criticized as excessive. The Kosovo government spokesperson, Ulpiana Lama, has also resigned her position although some local media reports conflict by saying she has only taken a couple of days off.
<soapbox> Any death during a demonstration is a tragedy but after this incident, it is time for the leaders of Vetevendosje to begin taking responsibility for their actions. As I've mentioned before, most Albanians are happy with the proposal even with the concessions that must be given to the Serbian communities. The leaders of the Vetevendosje group are nothing more than rabble-rousers. As a government spokesperson said that there was no reason for Albanians to protest because things are going in the right direction. Vetevendosje does not seem to have the interests of the majority of the Albanian community in mind. Their ideas are unrealistic (a referendum for independence, no negotiation with the Serbs, and total withdrawal of the international community) and will never be achieved through the use of violence.
Violence is not the right solution to voice displeasure over the status proposal. Deflating tires, defacing public property, and violent protests are no way to gain the respect of those who are working to decide the future of Kosovo. And unfortunately, whether or not the group likes it, UN, the special envoy, and the Security Council are the ones that will convince the world whether or not Kosovo gains its statehood and eventual independence. A statement from diplomats from the Contact Group condemned the incident and went on to say that "there is no place in Kosovo now or in the future for violence as a means to secure political objectives" and that groups that resort to violence only damage their cause in world opinion. They also expressed their disappointment that the "Vetevendosje protestors decided to endanger the personal safety of the police and the integrity of the Kosovo Assembly building".</soapbox>
Summary of the Weekend Events
According to UN sources, the demonstration on Saturday had approximately 4000 people. International and local police sealed off the area near the government building, not allowing access to PISG or UNMIK compounds. Violence broke out when protestors tried to get past the police barricade. Stones, sticks, and even a Molotov cocktail were thrown and some protestors tried to use a minibus to break the police line. 70 people were treated for mostly tear gas inhalation although six people did suffer from more serious injuries. Two people so far have died due to injuries sustained during the protest (identified as Man Balaj Arben Xheladini, aged 30 and 35 respectively). A third person is also rumored to have died but there is no verification. Five international police officers and six KPS officers were injured in the protest. Three UN vehicles were damaged and there were reports of damage to some buildings, but the locations were not specified.
14 protestors were arrested, 12 of which were sentenced to jail time of between 15-40 days. The leader of Vetevendosje was also arrested but but he has not yet been sentenced. Police did receive an extension of the time they are allowed to hold Kurti in custody. Local police raided Vetevendosje's headquarters around Kosovo and confiscated computer equipment and documents. Some people were arrested for resisting but a few were later released due to the fact that they were underage.
On Sunday, approximately 200 people held a candlelight ceremony at the government building in remembrance of the two men that passed away. The ceremony was organized by Vetevendosje. The funeral for Arben Xhelandini will be held today in Dragodan at 1600 hours.
The blame game is going on strong. Some people blame the UN, others blame the local government. Some Albanians in Ferizaj stole the UN flag from the municipal building and burned it. Kosovo PM Ceku has made statements to the effect that police used excessive force and that the fault lies with aggressive security at the protest.
The KLA war veterans association is calling for the resignation of the Interior Minister, the police commissioner, and the deputy commissioner. The AAK (Ramush Haradinaj's party) expressed regret over the violence and the "tendency of some individuals to damage Kosovo institutions", a comment directly aimed at Kurti's group. The Unity Team (Kosovo negotiators) blame Kurti for creating the situation.
Albin Kurti, the leader of the Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) movement, said that the police provoked the protestors. His statement was that there were so many rows of police that they were letting the crowd know that "they were prepared to intervene". One must wonder then, if Kurti figured this out...why the heck did he push the people to try to break through the police lines? He is reported to have made statements in front of the crowd to the gist of 'they aren't listening to us, lets go destroy things to show them we mean business'. Kurti has previously refused to meet with a police representative before the protests saying he would not participate in any meeting where an UNMIK representative was present. He goes on to say after the protests that he does not feel guilty but "the Police and regime should feel guilty".
At 1600 hours, news emerged that the Kosovo Interior Minister, Fatmir Rexhepi, has resigned following criticism for the handling of this weekend's protests. Rexhepi said he felt a "moral responsibility" for the response by the police which has been criticized as excessive. The Kosovo government spokesperson, Ulpiana Lama, has also resigned her position although some local media reports conflict by saying she has only taken a couple of days off.
<soapbox> Any death during a demonstration is a tragedy but after this incident, it is time for the leaders of Vetevendosje to begin taking responsibility for their actions. As I've mentioned before, most Albanians are happy with the proposal even with the concessions that must be given to the Serbian communities. The leaders of the Vetevendosje group are nothing more than rabble-rousers. As a government spokesperson said that there was no reason for Albanians to protest because things are going in the right direction. Vetevendosje does not seem to have the interests of the majority of the Albanian community in mind. Their ideas are unrealistic (a referendum for independence, no negotiation with the Serbs, and total withdrawal of the international community) and will never be achieved through the use of violence.
Violence is not the right solution to voice displeasure over the status proposal. Deflating tires, defacing public property, and violent protests are no way to gain the respect of those who are working to decide the future of Kosovo. And unfortunately, whether or not the group likes it, UN, the special envoy, and the Security Council are the ones that will convince the world whether or not Kosovo gains its statehood and eventual independence. A statement from diplomats from the Contact Group condemned the incident and went on to say that "there is no place in Kosovo now or in the future for violence as a means to secure political objectives" and that groups that resort to violence only damage their cause in world opinion. They also expressed their disappointment that the "Vetevendosje protestors decided to endanger the personal safety of the police and the integrity of the Kosovo Assembly building".</soapbox>
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Two (or Three?) Dead Following Protest
1200 CET: Two people injured during yesterday's protest have died. A crowd of 3000 Albanians tried to break through security barricades near the municipal government building, throwing sticks and rocks at the police. Police responded by using tear gas and rubber bullets. The international police commissioner, Stephen Curtis, made a public statement that the deaths were regrettable and urged the local police to conduct a fair and independent inquiry into the deaths. He called the action of the protestors who tried to go past the police barricade a "wanton breach of security" and that the police were compelled to "take defensive measures to restore order". Two other people are still in serious condition and have been transferred to KFOR facilities for medical treatment.
Kosovo leaders have been condemning the protest yesterday saying that the group's actions may have negative consequences on the process of forming a new Kosovo state. The leaders have also asked Kosovo's citizens to remain calm and contribute to the stability of Kosovo.
An international worker from New Jersey, with possible Kosovo roots, has a large number of photos of the demonstration on Flickr.
1730 CET: A candle lighting ceremony is being held at government building for the two people who died as a result of their injuries. The road has been closed and it has been advised for UN staff to avoid the area.
1800 CET: A demonstration has been announced in front of the student center. About 100 people (although other agencies are reporting hundreds) are reported to have gathered for the candlelight ceremony on Mother Theresa.
2030 CET: A demonstration appears to be occurring near the University as the intersection nicknamed "Suicide Junction" for its frequent accidents. It is possible that the demonstration that started at 1800 CET may be progressing though town. It has been said that a third person has died of their injuries.
Kosovo leaders have been condemning the protest yesterday saying that the group's actions may have negative consequences on the process of forming a new Kosovo state. The leaders have also asked Kosovo's citizens to remain calm and contribute to the stability of Kosovo.
An international worker from New Jersey, with possible Kosovo roots, has a large number of photos of the demonstration on Flickr.
1730 CET: A candle lighting ceremony is being held at government building for the two people who died as a result of their injuries. The road has been closed and it has been advised for UN staff to avoid the area.
1800 CET: A demonstration has been announced in front of the student center. About 100 people (although other agencies are reporting hundreds) are reported to have gathered for the candlelight ceremony on Mother Theresa.
2030 CET: A demonstration appears to be occurring near the University as the intersection nicknamed "Suicide Junction" for its frequent accidents. It is possible that the demonstration that started at 1800 CET may be progressing though town. It has been said that a third person has died of their injuries.
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