Two Serbs beaten up by Pristina's police in Gracanica

GRACANICA - Three officers of the so-called Kosovo Police beat up two Serb men in central Gracanica, Kosovo-Metohija, on Thursday night.

One of the eyewitnesses told reporters that the Serbs - brothers identified as A M, aged 24, and M M, aged 19 - had been beaten up because one of them had asked the police why a traffic offence ticket was written in Albanian.

A large number of residents gathered in protest outside the local police station during the night to demand an explanation from police chiefs, but received no response.

The incident has unsettled the Serb population of Gracanica.

According to Tanjug's sources, one of the brothers remains hospitalised in the town.

Lawyer Mile Markovic confirmed to Tanjug A M had been placed in 48-hour custody.