Serbs reacting badly to Kosovo independence

NY Times:

Serbs in northern Kosovo on Wednesday continued what appeared to be a drive to force a partition three days after the ethnic Albanian majority declared the province’s independence from Serbia.

A mob of 300 Serbs wielding clubs and tools gathered on a road near this small village of ethnic Albanians in northern Kosovo, prompting NATO to send armored vehicles and tanks to head them off.

Earlier, ethnic Albanian police officers, part of Kosovo’s multiethnic police force, were forced out of the neighboring Serb village, where they were patrolling with fellow Serbs. It was the latest sign that Serbs in Kosovo, incensed by the declaration of independence, are trying to assert control over the northern part of Kosovo, the majority of whose residents are ethnic Serbs.

NATO peacekeeping troops closed off roads between Serbia and northern Kosovo, and United Nations police officers guarded checkpoints still smoldering after they were burned down Tuesday by several hundred Serbs in what the police said appeared to be an organized operation, The Associated Press reported.

Indicating that the violence could be a prelude to an effort to force a partition of northern Kosovo, the Serbian minister for Kosovo, Metohija Slobodan Samardzic, said the destruction of the United Nations checkpoints was in line with Serbia’s policies. “It might not be pleasant, but it is legitimate,” he said, adding that Serbia would be seeking to enlarge its operations in northern Kosovo, where it provides education, culture and health services to the ethnic Serb population.

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The ancient ethnic hatred and religious bigotry run pretty deep in Serbia, which sees itself as a victim. However, the Serbs will only further alienate themselves from every one but the Russians who fear that some of their former Soviet Republics will declare independence. NATO will have to keep a cap on the violence for some time.