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Kosovo parliament evacuated over tear gas stunt

Parliament in Kosovo was disrupted after protesting members threw tear gas canisters to delay an important vote.

The government chamber was evacuated after tear gas filled the arena on Wednesday.

Several MPs had sought to disrupt a vote on a newly proposed border between Kosovo and neighbouring Montenegro.


Government building set alight during Kosovo protest

A government building in Kosovo has been set alight by angry protesters who gathered to denounce a deal brokered by the EU to give the country's ethnic Serb minority greater local powers.

Firefighters put out the flames on Saturday after protesters threw petrol bombs at the building during their rally.

Protesters were dispersed by police after throwing petrol bombs at a government building Credit: APTN
Thousands reportedly gathered for the protest in Kosovo Credit: APTN


Kosovo's two biggest parties agree to form government

Kosovo's two biggest parties agreed "in principle" to form a government, the Balkan country's president said, signalling an end to more than five months of damaging political deadlock.

President Atifete Jahjaga made the announcement after meeting outgoing Prime Minister Hashim Thaci of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) and Isa Mustafa of the rival Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).

"Thaci and Mustafa agreed in principle to form a coalition between PDK and LDK, to build institutions of the Republic of Kosovo," Jahjaga said in a statement.

Kosovo Albanians clash with police in Mitrovica

Police stand with their shields near Kosovo Albanians protesting in the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica. Credit: Reuters/Hazir Reka

Kosovo Albanians burned cars and threw rocks at police in the ethnically-divided town of Mitrovica on Sunday and police responded with tear gas, Reuters have reported.

Police stand near a burning vehicle set on fire by Kosovo Albanians during a protest in Mitrovica. Credit: Reuters/Hazir Reka

Violence broke out during a protest by several hundred Albanians over the blockage of a bridge between the two sides of the town, a frequent flashpoint between Serbs and Albanians since Kosovo's 1998-99 war.

A car burns during the violence as police walk by. Credit: Reuters/Hazir Reka

The Kosovo police were supported by lines of Polish police, part of a European Union mission, and US soldiers of NATO's 5,000-strong peace force in the Balkan country, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008.