The Nato-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo, KFOR, on Tuesday raised the number of its troops injured in fierce clashes with ethnic Serbs to 30.
The Serbs had tried to take over the offices of one of the municipalities in northern Kosovo where ethnic Albanian mayors took up their posts last week.
A statement said that 11 Italian soldiers and 19 Hungarian soldiers “sustained multiple injuries, including fractures and burns from improvised explosive incendiary devices”.
It added that three Hungarian soldiers were “wounded by the use of firearms” but their injuries are not life-threatening.
The Serbs clashed with Nato troops in Zvecan, 28 miles north of the capital, Pristina.
“Both parties need to take full responsibility for what happened and prevent any further escalation, rather than hide behind false narratives,” said KFOR commander major general Angelo Michele Ristuccia.
Ethnic Serbs plan to gather again on Tuesday.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spent the night with his troops on the border with Kosovo.
They were placed on the highest state of alert on his orders last week.
Mr Vucic said 52 Serbs were injured in the clashes, three seriously.
Kosovo police said four people were detained.
The violence was the latest incident as tensions soared over the weekend when ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo tried to block recently elected ethnic Albanian officials from entering municipal buildings.
Kosovo police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd and let the new officials into the offices.
Serbia put the country’s military on high alert and sent more troops to the border with Kosovo.
Kosovo and Serbia have been foes for decades, with Belgrade refusing to recognise Kosovo’s 2008 sovereignty.
In a 2nd call today with Italy's DPM/MFA @Antonio_Tajani, I conveyed the deep gratitude of the Govt & people of the Republic of Kosova for 🇮🇹 @NATO_KFOR soldiers' valiant action to preserve peace in the face of violent extremism. I wish a full & speedy recovery to those injured.
— Albin Kurti (@albinkurti) May 29, 2023
The US and the European Union have stepped up efforts to help solve the Kosovo-Serbia dispute, fearing further instability in Europe as Russia’s war rages in Ukraine.
The EU has made it clear to both Serbia and Kosovo that they must normalise relations if they’re to make any progress toward joining the bloc.
Ambassadors of the so-called Quint – France, Italy, Germany, the UK and US – met prime minister Albin Kurti in Pristina, asking him to take steps to de-escalate and lower tensions, while strongly denouncing the Serbs’ violence against KFOR troops and journalists.
“Ultra-nationalistic Serb graffiti on Nato vehicles is a dark reminder in Kosovo. We stand for peace and security,” said Mr Kurti after the meeting.
Quint ambassadors are to meet Mr Vucic, and he is also meeting Russian and Chinese ambassadors to show he has support for his policies.
The #NATO-led KFOR mission is closely monitoring the situation in the north of #Kosovo, and condemns all unilateral acts which risk escalating tensions further. Our 1st priority remains ensuring a safe & secure environment, in line with our UN Security Council mandate. pic.twitter.com/jWW56a460q
— NATO Kosovo Force - KFOR (@NATO_KFOR) May 26, 2023
Ethnic Serbs in Zvecan, Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Mitrovica, four municipalities in the north, held elections last month that were largely boycotted by ethnic Serbs.
Only ethnic Albanian or other smaller minority representatives were elected to the mayoral posts and assemblies.
The conflict in Kosovo erupted in 1998 when separatist ethnic Albanians rebelled against Serbia’s rule, and Serbia responded with a brutal crackdown.
About 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, died.
Nato’s military intervention in 1999 eventually forced Serbia to pull out of the territory.
The US and most EU countries have recognised Kosovo as an independent state, but Serbia, Russia and China have not.
