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Kosovo: tension rises after killing of Albanian journalist

Briefing notes

Kosovo: tension rises after killing of Albanian journalist

12 January 1999

Tension runs high in Kosovo following the killing of an Albanian journalist Monday and the capture last weekend of 8 Serbian soldiers by Kosovo rebels. Shelling by government troops at the weekend of villages near Podujevo and Suva Reka led to fresh displacement of about 2,000 people.

At the same time life appears to return to normal in Malisevo which had been a ghost town for months. A third of Malisevo's original population of 3,000 have gone back and more are returning. Today, UNHCR is sending the first convoy to Malisevo bringing warm clothes, blankets and repair material.

The continuing incidents in Kosovo are of concern and we could see full scale fighting and a new wave of refugees if no political solution is found soon.