KFOR allowed employees from the Zvecan municipality to pass, the police stopped them with tear gas

Kosovo police used tear gas against employees of the local self-government in front of the municipality building in Zvecan after they were previously allowed through by KFOR personnel.

KFOR forces, with soldiers armed with long guns and riot control equipment, have been deployed in and around the local self-government building in Zvecan since this morning.

Employees of the local self-government in Zvecan broke through the first KFOR cordon without being stopped.

They reached the municipality building and attempted to enter, but the police stopped them at the entrance. After several attempts to break through inside the building, the police used tear gas.

People gathered around the municipality building in close proximity, while the police established a cordon at the entrance consisting of special forces equipped with riot control gear.

Special police forces in armored vehicles are still positioned at the entrance to the building. 

The police have deployed special forces at major intersections in northern Kosovo.

The situation is tense. Schools are closed, and officials of local self-governments are preparing for work, although it is unclear if they will be able to enter the buildings.

The situation has been tense since early morning in all towns in northern Kosovo due to an unusually high number of police and KFOR troops.

On Friday, clashes occurred after residents from northern Kosovo attempted to prevent the police from entering municipal premises in Zvecan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavic. Tear gas, smoke, and stun grenades were used by the police.

Several Serbs were injured, and Kosovo police entered the municipal buildings and brought Albanian mayors into them.