Office for Kosovo-Metohija: Seven Serbs arrested on Kurti's orders

BELGRADE - Continuing his brutal oppression against Kosovo-Metohija Serbs, Pristina's PM Albin Kurti ordered the arrests of seven Serbs in Zubin Potok and Zvecan on Sunday morning, the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija said in a statement.

The Office said Kurti's police phalanxes including fully armed special forces had raided the two peaceful Serb-majority municipalities in the north of the province at around 6 am on Sunday to intimidate and unsettle Serb families.

It added that Pristina's police siege and harassment of the Serbs had lasted for hours and that, during the brutal clampdown, Kurti's special forces had smashed entrance doors, searching and rummaging Serb homes and making arbitrary arrests.

It said the arrestees would be provided with legal assistance and that international representatives would be informed of the arrests.

The Office also said the arrests were Kurti's retaliation against Serbs in the north of Kosovo-Metohija for their victory in recent local elections and added that the move reflected Pristina's nervousness following an election debacle.

The arrested Serbs were released later in the day after questioning.