Voice of America, 99-03-07

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO/VIOLENCE (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[01] KOSOVO/VIOLENCE (L ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: TWO SERBIAN POLICEMEN WERE KILLED BY GUNS AND GRENADES EARLY SUNDAY IN THE KOSOVO CAPITAL, PRISTINA. SERBIAN OFFICIALS SAY IT WAS A CRIMINAL INCIDENT, BUT THE KILLINGS APPEARED TO BE ETHNIC-BASED. MEANWHILE, OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL, SENIOR KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY OFFICIALS DISCUSSED SIGNING A NATO-BACKED PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM PRISTINA.

TEXT: SERBIAN POLICE WAGED A HOUSE-TO-HOUSE SEARCH OF ETHNIC ALBANIAN HOMES (SUNDAY) IN THEIR SEARCH FOR THE KILLERS OF THE TWO POLICEMEN.

THE SERBIAN MEDIA CENTER, WHICH HAS CLOSE TIES TO THE BELGRADE GOVERNMENT, SAYS THE SERBIAN POLICEMEN HAD ENTERED THE AREA TO SERVE ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST TWO ALBANIAN BROTHERS ACCUSED OF ROBBERIES AND OTHER CRIMES.

SERBIAN POLICE KEPT REPORTERS AT A DISTANCE WHILE ARMORED TRUCKS MOVED FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE IN AN APPARENT SEARCH FOR THE KILLERS. LATER, ETHNIC-ALBANIAN MEN SHOWED REPORTERS SIGNS THEY HAD BEEN BEATEN BY THE POLICE.

WESTERN MONITORS WITH THE KOSOVO VERIFICATION MISSION (K-V-M) SAY THEY SAW THE SERBIAN POLICE KICKING, SLAPPING, AND BEATING RESIDENTS. THEY SAY 15-RESIDENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SOUGHT MEDICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THEIR INJURIES.

IN THE KOSOVO COUNTRYSIDE, ETHNIC-ALBANIAN REBEL LEADERS MET (SUNDAY) TO DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT OR REJECT THE NATO-BACKED PEACE PLAN FOR KOSOVO. ALBANIAN SOURCES SAY A FINAL DECISION IS STILL A DAY OR MORE AWAY.

MANY SENIOR WESTERN DIPLOMATS IN THE REGION DOUBT YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC WILL SIGN A PEACE DEAL TO ALLOW 28-THOUSAND NATO PEACEKEEPERS INTO SERBIA.

IN BELGRADE, MILOSEVIC SUPPORTERS LASHED OUT AT NATO AND THE UNITED STATES, DESCRIBING THEM AS "CHILD KILLERS". IN PRISTINA, A MILOSEVIC SUPPORTER LASHED OUT AT WHAT HE CALLED THE -- BLACK HAND OF THE WHITE HOUSE. "

THOUSANDS OF SERBIAN MALES HAVE BEEN MOBILIZED FOR THE ARMY IN RECENT WEEKS. THEY ARE TOLD THEY ARE NEEDED TO PREPARE FOR A NATO INVASION. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/DW/RAE
07-Mar-99 2:52 PM EST (1952 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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