Police in Kosovo fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse hundreds of demonstrators trying to stop traffic entering from neighbouring Serbia on Saturday, according to Reuters. The Kosovo Albanian protesters, followers of the opposition political party Self-Determination, were trying to block two border crossings in protest at what they say is Serbian obstruction of Kosovo's independence since its secession in 2008. In the town of Podujevo near the main Merdare border crossing, heavily-armed riot police fired tear gas and water cannon after some 500 demonstrators blocked the road and ignored calls to disperse. The protesters responded by throwing rocks. Dozens were detained, and some protesters and police were injured, a Reuters witness said. The security operation was led by Kosovo police, without the visible involvement of NATO peacekeepers or European Union police who also patrol the country of 1.7 million people. Ninety percent ethnic Albanian, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and has been recognised by more than 80 countries including the United States and 22 of the EU's 27 members. Serbia lost control over Kosovo in 1999 after 11 weeks of NATO bombing.
