Explosion hits Kosovo parliament ahead of vote on Montenegrin land deal
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 5 August 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Explosion hits Kosovo parliament ahead of vote on Montenegrin land deal, 5 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57db99b94.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 05, 2016
Police said an explosive device, possibly a rocket-propelled grenade, hit the Kosovo parliament building late on August 4.
Police say Kosovo's parliament was hit with an explosive device late on August 4, causing damage to the building but no injuries.
Kosovo media reported that two motorcyclists fired a rocket-propelled grenade as they drove near the parliament building.
The downtown area was sealed off as police investigated.
The blast comes amid tensions over a border demarcation deal that the government has reached with Montenegro.
Earlier on August 4, the government ratified the deal and sent it to parliament. Lawmakers are expected to vote on it next week.
The deal sets the boundary between the two countries and is backed by the United States and European Union.
Adopting a the deal is a precondition for Kosovo to get a visa-free travel regime to the EU's Schengen zone as other countries in the region received in 2010, including Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Opposition parties and some members of the governing coalition are vehemently against the deal, however, saying it hands over 8,000 hectares of Kosovo land to Montenegro.
Since last year the opposition has used tear-gas canisters inside parliament and clashed with police outside in an attempt to scuttle the deal.
Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
