BELGRADE, Serbia, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- NATO forces in Kosovo used teargas and tanks to remove barriers at a disputed border crossing into Serbia as hundreds of Kosovo Serbs ignored warnings to leave.
Overnight NATO-led Kosovo Force troops were sent to remove barricades on the road between the town of Jagnjenica and the border crossing at Brnjak and to disperse crowds, EuroNews.net reported Thursday.
Kosovo Serbs reject Kosovo's independence and erected 16 barricades in the north during the summer to protest Pristina's growing international presence. NATO leaders met with local Serbs Wednesday to try to negotiate a peaceful removal of the barriers.
Serbian President Boris Tadic called for military restraint in northern Kosovo and urged Kosovo Serb leaders to make decisions that are in the citizens' best interests, Tanjug reported
"I demand from KFOR [NATO-led Kosovo Force] and EULEX [European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo] to restrain themselves from the use of force and from local leaders to make decisions that are exclusively in the vital interest of our people in Kosovo and not in the interest of their party chiefs who have been politically using even this issue for the sake of some future elections," Tadic said.
Serbia is seeking European Union membership but EU leadership said accession talks depend on Belgrade cooperating with Kosovo's government.
The president told Tanjug Thursday that citizens must not yield to violent acts "because they would lead to a downfall."
KFOR spokesman Uwe Nowitzki said Thursday the force would maintain operations aimed at establishing freedom of movement in Kosovo, B92 reported.
"KFOR has managed to put the Brnjak administrative crossing under its control, as well as the alternative road around the crossing, which was being used for smuggling," Nowitzki said.
