Kosovo monastery siege ends after heavy gun battles

BBC News:

At least four people are dead after Kosovan police cleared a monastery held by at least 30 heavily armed men near the border with Serbia.

“We put this territory under control. It was done after several consecutive battles,” Xhelal Svecla, Kosovo’s minister of internal affairs said.

The day began with the death of a police officer in Banjska village, before the occupation of the monastery.

Belgrade and Pristina were quick to blame each other for the violence.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said three of those killed in the shooting were confirmed to be Kosovo Serbs.

Sunday’s shooting began at about 03:00 (01:00 GMT), after police said they arrived in Banjska where a blockade had been reported.

Officers were attacked from several positions with “an arsenal of firearms, including hand grenades and shoulder-fired missiles”, they said in a statement.

A group of about 30 then entered the monastery complex in nearby Leposavic, where pilgrims from the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad were staying.

At least three of the gunmen were killed in battles through the day as police mounted what Mr Svecla described as a “clearance operation”.

Mr Svecla said police made several arrests during the operation and seized a large amount of weapons and equipment.

However it remained unclear if all gunmen had been apprehended during the sweep.