Situation in Brdjani tense but calm following clashes

This will be done until an agreement is reached regarding the restoration of homes there, reports from the ethnically divided Kosovo town said on Wednesday.

Serbs and Albanians gathered once again in Brdjani, in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, but there were no incidents.

EULEX and Kosovo police, KPS, stopped Serbs and Albanians from having any contact, while officials of the two camps continue to try to find a solution for continued building of homes in the community.

Serbs in Brdjani are protesting because an ethnic Albanian started clearing the land for restoring a home right next to the Serb part of the settlement.

Serbs are against this because Agim Vitaku does not have a permit to build from the municipality in the northern part of the town, that is under Serb control.

The man, however, asked police to escort him to his home on Wednesday.

Municipal officials in northern Kosovska Mitrovica want Vitaku to submit a request for receiving a construction permit.

And while a deal to diffuse the situation regarding the restoration of other Albanian houses, works on two locations agreed upon earlier continue.

Seven people were hurt on Tuesday as tensions flared. The dispute between Serbs and Albanians in Brdjani has been ongoing for three months.

Albanians were able to restore five homes with the held of the municipality in the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, while Serbs are asking for the same kind of help in restoring their homes.

The flashpoint town, divided by the Ibar River, is controlled in the north by Serbs, and has ethnic Albanian and Bosniak residents. No Serbs live in the southern, Albanian-held part.