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Kosovo: it's Belgrade-Pristina clash over aqueduct explosion

Serbia rejects allegations that it was behind the bombing

Redazione Ansa

(ANSA) - BELGRADO, NOV 30 - It's a clash between Belgrade and Pristina over responsibility for the powerful explosion that severely damaged a major aqueduct in northern Kosovo late yesterday evening, causing disruptions and disruption in water and power supply, with severe inconvenience to local populations. The Kosovo premier, Albin Kurti, late in the evening accused Serbia of deliberately provoking the explosion with "a terrorist and criminal attack aimed at damaging our critical infrastructure. " Denials and counter-accusations against Pristina came promptly this morning from Belgrade.
    According to Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric, the fact that PM Kurti was quick to point the finger at Serbia, without having any concrete facts, proves the involvement of his 'regime' in the attack. Djuric then appealed to the international institutions present in Kosovo, primarily KFOR and Eulex, to conduct independent investigations to shed full light.
    Statements of a similar tenor came from Petar Petkovic, head of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo, who spoke of an attack directed against the peace to which Belgrade has always been committed. An attack, he noted, that "is absolutely not in the interest of the local Serbian people and Belgrade." Northern Kosovo is predominantly inhabited by Serbs. Since the early hours of this morning Kosovo police have been conducting checks and searches in homes of Serb families in the Zubin Potok area, where the incident took place, and, according to unconfirmed reports, there have already been arrests. Also this morning, the Kosovo Security Council met in Pristina, reiterating charges against Serbia, "which has the capacity for such a criminal and terrorist attack." Measures were taken to tighten security around bridges, viaducts and other infrastructure, and at the same time a possible link was evoked to Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which left hundreds of thousands of families without electricity and heating. According to Kosovar Interior Minister Xehlal Svecla, at least 15 kilograms of explosives were used in the aqueduct attack.
    Condemnations of the attack came from the embassies of the U.S., United Kingdomb and the EU representation. Also reacting was the Italian Embassy in Pristina, which, in a message posted on X, "strongly condemned" the attack on the aqueduct: "We stand by Kosovo in its investigative efforts to identify those responsible." (ANSA).
   

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