Title: About 25 Peacekeeping Forces Injured in Kosovo Clashes

The NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo stated that about 25 personnel from the alliance were injured in clashes with Serbs protesting the appointment of ethnic Albanian officials as mayors in predominantly Serbian areas. The mission reported that while confronting the crowds, "Italian and Hungarian soldiers from the mission were subjected to unprovoked attacks, sustaining severe injuries including fractures and burns from incendiary device explosions." The statement quoted mission commander Angelo Michele Ristoccia saying, "The unprovoked attacks on NATO units are unacceptable, and the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo will continue its duties impartially."