Kosovo Serb's house arrest extended until May 9

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Following a request by prosecutors, a Pristina court has extended the house arrest of Serb Dejan Pantic, a former Kosovo Police officer from Kosovska Mitrovica, by two months, until May 9, his wife confirmed to Tanjug on Tuesday.

Suzana Pantic said her husband's health condition was not the best and that he was feeling unwell psychologically and suffering from anxiety.

Pantic has been charged with "organising a terrorist attack" on the building of the Kosovska Mitrovica election commission on December 6.

He was arrested at the Jarinje administrative crossing on December 10, which triggered protests by local Serbs, who put up barricades in the north of Kosovo-Metohija that remained in place for 20 days.

Meanwhile, Pantic, who is a serious cardiac patient, was held by Kosovo Police for a full 19 days, and it was only after EULEX assistance that he was placed under house arrest on December 28.

During Pantic's incarceration at a base of Pristina's special police, his family and lawyers were not allowed to see him.

For several days, the Pristina interim authorities were refusing to allow Pantic to take medication prescribed for his condition.