Annan condemns killing of UN staff in Kosovo

[seemslikeadream]

www.chinaview.cn 2004-03-25 04:47:18

UNITED NATIONS, March 24 (Xinhuanet) -- UN Secretary-General condemned Wednesday the killing of two police officers of the world body's mission in Kosovo.

"The Secretary-General is shocked and outraged at the killing last night in Kosovo of two UNMIK (UN Mission in Kosovo) police officers one from Ghana and one from Kosovo itself," UN spokesman Fred Eckhard told a press briefing in New York.

"The two were shot dead by automatic gunfire while carrying out routine police work near Podujevo, in Pristina region," he said, reading out a statement by the UN chief.

The international police officer was killed instantly, the Kosovo police officer later died of his wounds. A local assistant was also shot and is in serious but stable condition, according to the spokesman.

"The Secretary-General condemns this inexcusable act in the strongest possible terms. He sends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims," the statement said.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-03/25/content_1383030.htm




Children are war’s innocent victims.
Photo: © Gary Fabiano

[seemslikeadream]

1. Policemen killed in Kosovo attack

As the clashes spread across the province, more than 3,000 Serbs fled their homes and churches attacked by ethnic Albanian mobs.


Separate regions

Earlier on Tuesday, Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica once again defended his case for Kosovo's division along ethnic lines.

After talks with top European Union officials in Brussels, Mr Kostunica said establishing separate regions for Albanians and Serbs was the only way to prevent further violence in Kosovo.

Kosovo's unresolved status is the subject of a bitter dispute between its independence-seeking majority Albanians and minority Serbs who strongly oppose it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3562917.stm



A young boy nervously looks out the window of the car at his new surroundings just after entering Albania from Kosovo. Photo: © Gary Fabiano