Kosovo Police Detain Anti-Serbia Protesters

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) — Kosovo police say they have detained at least a dozen ethnic Albanian protesters trying to block Serbia’s president from attending a Serb Orthodox Christmas ceremony in Kosovo’s west.

Police spokesman Baki Kelani said the protesters used vehicles and tires to block a convoy led by Serbia’s President Boris Tadic. He said 8 people were briefly detained, while 5 remain in police custody.

Tadic is on a traditional visit to monks in the medieval monastery of Visoki Decane. Kosovo was the ancient seat of the Serbian Orthodox Church and hundreds of monasteries and churches remain there.

Ethnic Albanian protesters object to such visits because Serbia refuses to recognize Kosovo’s 2008 secession.