NATO approves more troops in Kosovo

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PRISTINA, Kosovo, April 24 (UPI) -- Officials said Tuesday NATO granted a request for more troops in Kosovo during local elections to ease possible tensions.

The request, filed by the NATO-led peacekeeping force Kosovo Force, had been approved Tuesday, spokesman Uwe Nowitziki told Tanjug news agency.

Nowitziki said a total of 550 German and 150 Austrian troops should arrive by the end of the week, to be stationed at points in Kosovska Mitrovica, along with ethnic Albanian villages in the Zvecan and Zubin Potok municipalities.

The U.S. Embassy also announced a U.S. assault ship was to dock at the Albanian Port of Durres April 24-27.

Nowitziki added a report claiming "American Special Forces" would be sent to Albania, published in the Lajm newspaper, was not true.