(24 Feb 2000) Albanian/Nat
France has confirmed it's ready to send up to 700 troops to help stem rising violence to the ethnically divided city of Kosovska Mitrovica in northern Kosovo.
Tensions between Serbs and ethnic Albanians have been rising in recent weeks.
In the latest outbreak of violence, an Albanian man trying to cross to Mitrovica's northern side was stoned by an angry mob of Serbs.
French KFOR troops moved in quickly to remove the evidence of the latest surge in violence.
The divided town of Mitrovica has been the scene of boiling tensions between Serb and Albanian communities.
Serbs are threatening protests and more unrest in response to plans by NATO-led peacekeepers to begin resettling ethnic Albanians on the Serb-controlled north bank of the Ibar River.
When one Albanian man tried to cross over into the majority Serb controlled Northern area, he says he received rough treatment.
SOUNDBITE: (Albanian)
"I was going to the other side as I heard that it was free to go to buildings near the bridge. KFOR searched the car and then notified Serbs that I am Albanian - and then the Serbs threw stones at me. As you see my car is broke in two."
SUPER CAPTION: Sakupuka, Resident of Mitrovica
Head of the UNHCR, Dennis MacNamera, who visited Mitrovica, said security measures had to be improved.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We are talking with KFOR, UNMIK and the police about the prospects of getting people back but that needs careful planning, it needs security first of all, it needs people willing to go back. We've had people register with us saying they'd like to go back once the security is in place. But at the moment it's not in place so we're working with KFOR and the police to try and ensure that.
SUPER CAPTION: Dennis McNamara, Head of the UNHCR
Most Albanians have fled the northern section controlled by Serbs.
Eighty-seven Albanians who fled on February 8th from the northern side have taken refuge in a factory located on the southern side with the assistance of UNHCR.
Ahmed Imeri lives with his six children in the factory.
He said he felt it would be too dangerous to return to the northern part of the city.
SOUNDBITE: (Albanian)
"Believe me I don't trust them (Serbs) at all and at this point it would be impossible for me to go back because of the lack of security."
SUPER CAPTION: Ahmed Imeri, ethnic Albanian
UNMIK is expected to start registering Albanians on Friday as part of an effort to try to return them to the northern side.
Other European nations showed little sign on Thursday they planned to follow France's lead in sending troops to back up peacekeepers trying to prevent violence in the Serb province.
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