After violent protests in northern Kosovo, NATO is strengthening the international protection force KFOR in the Balkan country. The deployment of additional NATO troops in Kosovo is a precautionary measure "to ensure that KFOR has the capabilities it needs to maintain security in accordance with our UN Security Council mandate," NATO commander Stuart B. Munsch said on Tuesday. He also called for an end to the violence.

One day after the heavy clashes between militant Serbs and the KFOR protection force with around 80 injured on both sides, Serbs gathered again in northern Kosovo on Tuesday morning for protests. Demonstrators gathered in front of the municipal offices in Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok, which are secured by the NATO-led KFOR, the Kosovo news portal koha.net reported, citing its own reporters on the ground.

The clashes occurred on Monday afternoon in Zvecan, when KFOR troops dispersed a violent crowd using tear gas. The militant Serbs threw incendiary devices, stones and bottles at the international law enforcement forces.

Bone fractures and burns

30 KFOR soldiers, including 19 Hungarians and 11 Italians, suffered injuries, including broken bones and burns, the protection force said on Tuesday morning in Pristina. "KFOR has (...) responded to the unprovoked attacks of a violent and dangerous crowd," the statement said. According to the hospital in the nearby city of Mitrovica, 53 Serbs were injured.

In the north of Kosovo, which is populated almost exclusively by Serbs, the protests of the local population are directed against the installation of new mayors, who emerged from elections the previous month and come from Albanian parties. The elections had been boycotted by almost all Serbs.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti blamed neighboring Serbia for the riots. Most of the demonstrators in the north are "a bunch of extremists under the guidance of official Belgrade," he said late Monday evening in a conversation with Western ambassadors, according to his office.

Kosovo, which is now inhabited almost exclusively by Albanians, declared its independence in 2008. Serbia does not want to recognize the statehood of its former southern province.