A session of Kosovo’s parliament has been postponed as opposition lawmakers released tear gas into the chamber.
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Kosovo’s worldwide backers have called for an end to the violence – street fights between anti-government protesters and police outside parliament have also occurred – but opposition leaders say it’s the best way to turn attention to their cause. Kosovo opposition again has used tear gas inside the Parliament disrupting its session, a repeated use of violent methods over the last five months to convince the government renounces its deals with Serbia and Montenegro.
The session was temporarily suspended after a tear gas canister was launched from opposition lawmakers’ seats.
Earlier this week, thousands protested in Kosovo’s capital Pristina, demanding the government’s resignation and snap elections as the poor Balkan country marked the eighth anniversary of its independence from Serbia.
Pristina Insight reported on its Twitter feed that one of the MPs who threw a tear gas canister was opposition politician Mytaher Haskuka.
They failed to get the deals struck down or elections announced.
Police said they detained three opposition lawmakers and three other people Friday for illegal possession of tear gas canisters.
Kosovo Parliament Speaker Kadri Veseli was forced to suspend the parliamentary session which will restart at 15:00. Demonstrators were also agitated by a recent diplomatic agreement with Kosovo’s neighbour Montenegro, which detractors argue threatens the country’s sovereignty.
Deputy prime minister and foreign minister Hashim Thaci, of the governing Democratic Party of Kosovo, said the government is determined to continue its daily agenda, and condemned the use of tear gas as “ugly”.
Kosovo’s 2008 independence has been recognised by 111 countries, including the U.S. and major European Union nations, but it is rejected by Serbia, with support from Russian Federation, which has blocked Kosovo from becoming a UN member. Serbia considers Kosovo to be part of its territory.
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The deal between Pristina and Belgrade was reached during EU-mediated talks to “normalise” relations.
