Kosovo: UN personnel come under fire as jail break is foiled

A Romanian Special Police Unit working under the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) came under fire yesterday during an unsuccessful prison breakout by 14 inmates in the western part of the province, which the world body has administered since 1999.

There were no casualties, but two vehicles were hit by gunfire, a UN spokesman said today.

Within the prison, staff managed to reassert control after initially being overpowered. Simultaneously, however, the Romanian Unit was shot at by unknown persons.

Police are investigating the events both inside and outside the prison.

The UN has administered Kosovo since North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces drove out Yugoslav troops amid grave human rights abuses in fighting between majority Albanians and Serbs.