Bujanovic, Yugoslavia; 27 November (RFE/RL) - Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica arrived today in southern Serbia town of Bujanovic from Vienna amid growing tensions between Serbs and ethnic Albanians. He told a crowd of about 1,000 Serbs that he came "because of peace and not because of war." Kostunica was accompanied by Yugoslav Army Chief of Staff General Nebojsa Pavkovic and Serbian state security chief Rade Markovic.
The region saw an upsurge in activity by an ethnic Albanian guerilla group early last week, leaving four Serbian policemen dead. Belgrade has threatened to send police reinforcements if international peacekeepers fail to stamp out the attacks.
Hundreds of ethnic Albanians have already fled the region for Kosovo for fears of further violence. The UN says nearly 2,500 people entered Kosovo yesterday.
Kostunica urged the UN Security Council to hold talks soon on the latest events in southern Serbia.
The region saw an upsurge in activity by an ethnic Albanian guerilla group early last week, leaving four Serbian policemen dead. Belgrade has threatened to send police reinforcements if international peacekeepers fail to stamp out the attacks.
Hundreds of ethnic Albanians have already fled the region for Kosovo for fears of further violence. The UN says nearly 2,500 people entered Kosovo yesterday.
Kostunica urged the UN Security Council to hold talks soon on the latest events in southern Serbia.