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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Two years since March outburst of violence by Albanian extremists in Kosovo

Belgrade, 17 March 2006

It is exactly two years today since the greatest outburst of ethnically-motivated violence in Kosovo-Metohija in which 19 civilians were killed. It was the gravest conflict in the province since the arrival of international forces in June 1999.

Exiled Kosovo Serbs

The two-day conflict broke out on March 17, 2004 after the UNMIK police discovered the bodies of two Albanian boys in the river Ibar near Cabar village in north Kosovo. Kosovo Albanians accused Serbs of murder and mass protests erupted in the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica and then spread through the province.

During these two days, 19 civilians (eleven ethnic-Albanians and eight Serbs) fell victim to the violence of ethnic-Albanians and more than 900 people were injured, among whom were also members of the international and Kosovo police forces. Around 800 Serbian houses were destroyed or damaged, as well as 35 orthodox churches and monasteries, remnants of medieval culture. Approximately 4,000 Kosovo Serbs were forced to leave their homes.

The second anniversary of the suffering and banishment of Kosovo Serbs will be marked by a memorial service that will take place at noon at St Mark's church in Belgrade. There have been announcements that protests will be organised in parts of Kosovo-Metohija inhabited by Serbs.