Total of 35 NATO soldiers wounded in Kosovo clashes

PRISTINA, Serbia (AFP) Mar 18, 2004
A total of 35 soldiers serving in the NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force for Kosovo have been wounded in ethnic clashes in Kosovo, a spokesman for the force said Thursday, citing a new toll.

KFOR spokesman James Moran gave no details on how the soldiers were hurt nor on their nationality.

Wednesday, a force spokesman said 11 French KFOR soldiers were injured in violent clashes between ethnic Albanians and Serbs in Kosovska Mitrovica.

Earlier Thursday, NATO began reinforcing its 17,000-strong peacekeeping force in Kosovo and approved the use of force to end the bloodiest violence between Serbs and ethnic Albanians there in five years which has left 22 dead and 500 injured.

Violent clashes have erupted over the past two days between ethnic Albanians and KFOR soldiers trying to protect ethnic Serbs and their property in several towns across Kosovo.

WAR.WIRE