Geweld in Kosovo baart zorgen (en)

Yesterday's violent clashes in Kosovo that left eight people dead have prompted a flurry of calls for calm from EU leaders.

The northern Kosovar town of Mitrovica erupted yesterday with hundreds of ethnic Albanians and Serbs clashing on streets after allegations that Serbs were responsible for the deaths of three Albanian school children.

The violence has since spread to other towns in the region.

Eleven French peacekeepers were hurt in the disturbances, which many say were the worst in years.

Fears are growing that events are now slipping out of control.

"The immediate priority is that calm be restored in Kosovo", Irish foreign minister, Brian Cowen said yesterday (March 17).

"There is a heavy responsibility on all to avoid actions which would undermine the work under way to ensure a stable future for a secure, democratic and multiethnic Kosovo with its place in Europe" added Mr Cowen, whose country currently holds the EU Presidency.

The EU has been a major aid donor in the region and has continuously stressed that all Balkan countries have the prospect of EU membership.

In a statement the minister said: "I call on all local leaders to act responsibly at this dangerous moment and to use all their influence to bring an end to the violence and to restore calm".

Many local leaders did press for an end to the violence. However, the Serbian government chose to renew their call for Kosovo's Serbs to be given autonomy saying the events highlighted the "terrorist character" of Albanian separatism.

"These criminal acts are completely unacceptable and severely threaten Kosovo's progress towards a better future. The perpetrators must be brought to justice", said Javier Solana the EU's foreign policy chief.

Kosovo has been an international protectorate since 1999, it final status has not yet been agreed.