SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE INJURED THURSDAY IN KOSOVO DURING AN ATTACK ON A POLICE CONVOY ESCORTING TWO SERBS, A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE UN MISSION IN KOSOVO (UNMIK) SAID. A GROUP OF RESIDENTS FROM THE VILLAGE OF MALA KRUSA BLOCKED THE ROAD IN FRONT OF THE UNMIK POLICE CONVOY AND BEGAN THROWING STONES WHEN POLICE ATTEMPTED TO CLEAR THE ROAD, THE PRESS RELEASE SAID, ACCORDING TO DPA. THREE POLICE OFFICERS AND ONE INTERPRETER WERE HURT IN THE ATTACK, AND POLICE SUBSEQUENTLY HAD TO CLEAR THE CROWD, CAUSING INJURIES TO SEVERAL DEMONSTRATORS. THE UN ADMINISTRATOR OF KOSOVO, SOREN JESSEN-PETERSEN, DENOUNCED THE INCIDENT SAYING HE WAS "OUTRAGED AND DISAPPOINTED." UNMIK POLICE CHIEF KAI VITTRUP HAS LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT. FORMALLY STILL A PART OF SERBIA, KOSOVO HAS BEEN ADMINISTERED BY THE UN SINCE 1999 AND TALKS ARE UNDERWAY ON ITS FUTURE STATUS. THE KOSOVO ALBANIANS, WHO FORM AROUND 90 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION IN THE PROVINCE, INSIST THAT KOSOVO MUST BECOME INDEPENDENT, WHILE SERBIA OFFERS WIDE AUTONOMY.
