Highlights: Violence has decreased in northern Kosovo, where members of the Serb community are still protesting against the election of Albanian mayors. Dozens of young Albanians protested in front of the Mitrovica bridge shouting anti-Serb slogans. Like most Kosovar Albanians, these protesters accuse the Serbian president of being responsible for the violence of recent days. The West has repeatedly condemned the attitude of the Kosovaar leaders and the tensions ofrecent days have further strengthened Kosovo's communal divisions.

Kosovo: Albanian demonstration in Mitrovica, a city symbolic of communal divisions

Violence has decreased in northern Kosovo, where members of the Serb community are still protesting against the election of Albanian mayors to head municipalities where they are in the majority. But the situation remains relatively explosive. This Thursday, June 1, noon, several dozen Albanians denounced the attitude of the Serbs, demonstrating in Mitrovica, a city symbol of community divisions.

Audio 01:16

Albanians protest near the bridge that connects southern and northern Mitrovica, Kosovo, June 1, 2023. REUTERS - OGNEN TEOFILOVSKI

Text by: RFI Follow

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Our Balkan correspondent Louis Seiller reports from Mitrovica

While tensions remain high in the Serb-majority north of Kosovo, dozens of young Albanians protested in front of the Mitrovica bridge shouting anti-Serb slogans.

At the age of 24, Fadil waved an Albanian flag: "Serbs can say and repeat what they want - that 'Kosovo is Serbia and the heart of Serbia' - Kosovo is not Serbia! Kosovo is an independent Republic and State recognized by many States around the world.

Like most Kosovar Albanians, these protesters accuse the Serbian president of being responsible for the violence of recent days.

At 56, Arjan is a veteran of the Kosovo Liberation Army: "Thedemocratic world must not support a fascist criminal like the Serbian president, because he is an heir to Milosevic. I fought in the war in Kosovo, and I am ready to fight again if necessary.

On the other side of the bridge protected by Kosovo police and Italian carabinieri, some Serbs watch Albanian provocations with folded arms. This is the case of Milos, 44 years old: "If they are ready for war, and well, we are twice as ready. If it is possible, we would like to avoid war, but if we must, we will defend ourselves.

The West has repeatedly condemned the attitude of the Kosovar leaders and the tensions of recent days have further strengthened Kosovo's communal divisions.

Kosovo: Albanian demonstration in Mitrovica, a city symbolic of communal divisions

Kosovo: Albanian demonstration in Mitrovica, a city symbolic of communal divisions

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