Kosovo Albanians protest EU police plan

Some 6,000 ethnic Albanians have held a peaceful rally protesting against UN-backed plans for the deployment of an EU police mission.

Tuesday's demonstrations were in objection to what the protesters saw as a threat to Kosovo's sovereignty, gained on February 17 with the declaration of independence from Serbia.

UN chief Ban Ki-Moon proposed the plan endorsed by the UN Security Council to Serbia without consulting the newly-independent former province, sparking ire in Pristina.

The EU police mission is expected to arrive in Kosovo in the next few days, and will mainly concentrate in north Kosovo's Serb enclaves, a move welcomed by the Serbian minority.

One of the organizers of the protest, and the leader of the radical Kosovo Albanian "Self-Determination" movement, said they opposed "legalization of Serbian parallel institutions" in Kosovo.

Albin Kurti added that the Albanians majority sought global recognition of Kosovo's independence, currently acknowledged by 52 countries, including the United States and most EU members.

ZHD/DT