Kosovo: UN mission offers reward for information on murdered police officer

The United Nations mission in Kosovo today offered a reward of 50,000 Euros for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators of the murder of a UN police officer over the weekend, and Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged all sides to cooperate in the investigation into this "appalling act."

Those guilty of the "brutal murder" must be brought to justice, Mr. Annan said in a statement issued by a spokesman in New York. The ambush shooting was the first fatality suffered by the UN police force since it was sent in four years ago to maintain order in the province, riven by fighting between Serbs and Albanians

"The Secretary-General is shocked and outraged at the killing of a UN police officer in an attack on a police vehicle in the northern part of Kosovo," the statement added. "He strongly condemns this appalling act and appeals to all concerned to cooperate with the UN Mission in Kosovo in carrying out the investigation into the circumstances of this brutal murder. The guilty must be brought to justice," the statement added.

The slain officer, Satish Menon, was Indian and Mr. Annan sent his condolences both to the family and the Government of India, "whose police officers have given great service to the people of Kosovo."

Announcing the reward in the Kosovo capital of Pristina, Police Commissioner Stefan Feller gave further details about the ambush. Shortly before midnight on Sunday, Major Menon and another officer from the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) slowed their patrol car due to rocks on the road between Leposavic and Mitrovica and came under gunfire from concealed attackers.

Multiple shots were fired directly into the passenger compartment and Major Menon was struck and killed instantly, Commissioner Feller said.

"Let me be perfectly clear - This was a cold blooded and deliberate killing of an officer who had no chance to defend himself," he said. "Major Menon did not die due to his interrupting a crime. He died because he was a police officer - a symbol of hope. He was a target to people opposed to freedom. He died serving the people of Kosovo."

Commissioner Feller vowed that the police "will not be deterred from doing their job by such cowards and criminals. We will spare no effort to find those responsible for this murder and then we will bring them to justice," he added.