Kosovo: Homes of Serb returnees set on fire
SOURCE: TANJUG
PEČ -- Two houses belonging to Serb returnees were burnt down in the village of Drenovac in Kosovo and Metohija, late on Tuesday.



 

The village is located south of the Ibar River, where Serbs live in isolated enclaves.

Nenad Stašić, who lives in the village, told Tanjug news agency that around midnight fire damaged the houses of Milovan Radosavljević and Arso Stepić, but that no one was inside at that time.

Fire crews arrived around 01:00, but the fire had already destroyed Radosavljević's house, whereas the second home was damaged to a lesser degree, he said.

Stašić also said that Serb returnees from the village believe that the houses were set on fire "in order to send a clear message to Serbs that they do not belong in Metohija".

"Last week it was agreed that another 12 houses for Kosovo Serb returnees will be built. This is the message for those people as well that they are not welcome here," the villager said.

Last year, first seven Serb families returned to Drenovac, five of which live in the village permanently.

Kosovo police (KPS) was expected to send "special units to the scene", according to Tanjug. Their role would be to conduct an investigation and determine the cause of the fire.