Kosovo MPs Stage Second Tear Gas Protest
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Kosovo's opposition disrupted parliament with tear gas for a second week running on Thursday, in protest at agreements made with Serbia.
Despite tight security at the entrance to prevent a repeat of last week's chaotic scenes, tear gas was smuggled into the chamber and released before proceedings began, said an AFP journalist at the scene.
Before the gas was released, protesting MPs had gathered around the podium to prevent any debate.
"The opposition has enough gas to block any session," Glauk Konjufca of the Self-Determination party, which is leading the protesting opposition bloc, told reporters outside parliament.
The dissenters are angry at EU-brokered dialogue and agreements with Serbia, particularly a plan to set up an association of Serb-run municipalities giving greater autonomy to Kosovo's Serb minority.
The government says this association will not hold executive powers, but the opposition believes the move will deepen the ethnic divide and increase Serbia's power in Kosovo.
Kosovo, whose population is predominantly ethnic Albanian, declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade fiercely rejected the move and still considers the breakaway territory as its southern province.
About 100 protesters gathered outside and cheered as MPs left the building after the parliament's president was forced to call off the session.
Last week Albin Kurti, the founder of the Self-Determination party, was seen opening a tear gas canister and kicking it around the chamber.
The clouds of smoke caused two MPs to faint and the US embassy in Kosovo said some of its personnel who were in the chamber at the time had to seek medical treatment.
Kurti was taken for questioning at a police station in Pristina on Monday, leading about 200 of his supporters to gather outside, throwing stones and smashing windows. Police fought back with tear gas.
Opposition MPs have also blown whistles and thrown eggs to disrupt recent parliamentary sessions.
Kosovo and Serbia were at war in 1998-1999, which ended after Serbian armed forces withdrew from the territory following an 11-week NATO bombing campaign.
