Alert sirens sounded in all four north Kosovo municipalities

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Alert sirens were sounded on Friday in all four Serb-majority municipalities in the north of Kosovo-Metohija - Zubin Potok, Kosovska Mitrovica, Zvecan and Leposavic - as residents gathered around municipal buildings in Zubin Potok, Zvecan and Leposavic to prevent Pristina's police from taking control of them.

Milija Bisevac of the Zubin Potok Civic Initiative told Tanjug Pristina's police had attempted to enter the local municipal building but had been thwarted by residents.

Eulex units were also on the ground.

In a statement, Pristina's police said they were assisting newly-elected mayors in exercising their right to work in official municipal buildings.

Following elections boycotted by the Serb population in the north of Kosovo-Metohija, the new mayors of Zubin Potok, Zvecan and Leposavic were sworn in on Thursday and North Mitrovica Mayor Erden Atic was sworn in on May 19.