Kosovo tensions: Serbian troops on 'highest' alert over latest shootings | World News

Serbian armed forces have been on "the very best stage" of alert, Defence Minister Milos Vucevic stated Monday, highlighting the Balkan nation's more and more strained relations with neighbouring Kosovo over latest shootings and blockades.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, however Belgrade has refused to recognise it and inspired Kosovo's 120,000 ethnic Serbs to defy Pristina's authority -- particularly within the north the place ethnic Serbs make up the bulk.

Watch| NATO in a repair as Serbia seeks nod to ship troops to Kosovo

The Serbian military has been placed on a heightened state of alert over tensions with Kosovo a number of instances in recent times -- the final time in November after claiming that a number of drones entered Serbian airspace from Kosovo.

On December 10, Serbs in northern Kosovo arrange barricades to protest in opposition to the arrest of an ex-policeman suspected of being concerned in assaults in opposition to ethnic Albanian cops.

The blockades have coincided with an increase in reported shootings, the most recent on Sunday, in line with NATO-led peacekeeping power KFOR.

"Serbia's president... ordered the Serbian military to be on the very best stage of fight readiness, that's to the extent of using armed power," Defence Minister Milos Vucevic stated in an announcement.

He added that President Aleksandar Vucic additionally ordered the particular armed forces to be beefed up from the present 1,500 to five,000.

Learn| Emergency in Serbian metropolis after ammonia leak

Serbia's inside ministry additionally introduced that "all models (will) instantly come beneath the command of the chief of common workers".

These orders from Vucic come after military chief Basic Milan Mojsilovic was dispatched to the border with Kosovo on Sunday.

"The state of affairs there's sophisticated and sophisticated," Mojsilovic stated Sunday.

- Defying authorities -

Northern Kosovo has been particularly on edge since November when a whole bunch of ethnic Serb employees within the Kosovo police in addition to the judicial department, resembling judges and prosecutors, walked off the job.

They have been protesting a controversial determination to ban Serbs residing in Kosovo from utilizing Belgrade-issued licence plates -- a coverage that was ultimately scrapped by Pristina.

However the mass walkouts created a safety vacuum in Kosovo.

Pristina tried to schedule the December 18 native elections in Serb-majority municipalities -- nevertheless it was postponed after the announcement triggered widespread outrage and the principle Serb political social gathering stated it will stage a boycott.

Watch| Putin warns Kosovo, backs Russia's 'buddy' Serbia

Then on December 10, an ex-policeman suspected of involvement in assaults in opposition to ethnic Albanian cops was arrested, outraging ethnic Serbs who erected the barricades that paralysed visitors round two border crossings.

Simply hours after the barricades have been erected, Kosovo police stated they suffered three successive firearm assaults on one of many roads resulting in the border.

KFOR, which has elevated its presence and patrols within the area in latest months, stated the most recent bout of violence got here Sunday, when pictures have been fired within the path of Latvian troopers embedded with the power, Kosovo's defence ministry tweeted.

KFOR stated it was investigating the incident, and added there have been "no accidents or materials harm".

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic stated final week the state of affairs with Kosovo was "getting ready to armed battle".

Learn| 51 poisoned as practice carrying ammonia derails in Serbia

However Kosovo's safety council -- which met Monday -- blamed Serbia for the most recent deterioration in relations.

It accused Serbia of "appearing with all obtainable means in opposition to the constitutional order of the Republic of Kosovo".

Serbs account for about 120,000 of Kosovo's 1.8 million inhabitants, which is predominantly ethnic Albanians.