Kosovo opposition MP freed by police after violent street protests

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Kosovo opposition MP freed by police after violent street protests



KOSOVO: -- Kosovo MP Albin Kurti has been released by police after being detained for questioning over last week’s incident in parliament when he set off a tear gas cannister.

His arrest on Monday triggered clashes between his supporters and police in the capital Pristina.

About 200 chanted his name as they threw missiles and smoke bombs.

Kurti is a member of the opposition’s Self-Determination party. His stunt in parliament was a protest at a European Union-brokered deal to give more power to Kosovo’s ethnic Serb minority.

The EU sees the 2013 deal – still being implemented – as a way to cement stability in the former Yugoslavia. Critics, however, say it will deepen the ethnic divide and increase Serbia’s power in the country

Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians broke away from Serbia in a revolt in 1999. It’s unilateral declaration of independence in 2008 has never been recognised by Belgrade.

Ninety percent of Kosovo’s 1.8 million people are ethnic Albanian.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-10-14