Third group of Chinese policemen starts UN peacekeeping mission in Kosovo

XINHUA (CHINA), Jul 25, 2005 3:47 AM

BELGRADE, Jul 25, 2005 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- The third contingent of Chinese police personnel started on Monday their 12-month mission as UN peacekeepers in Kosovo, said reports from Pristina, capital of Kosovo.

The 18 Chinese policemen, who arrived in Pristina on July 16, had undergone a week-long training before being put on duty, Wu Qiang, head of the Chinese police team, told Xinhua in a telephone interview.

Of the total, 14 are stationed in Pristina while the four others are working in Prizren and Kosovska Mitrovica.

China sent 19 policemen in two batches to join UN peacekeeping operations in Kosovo last year. The first batch, comprising 12 policemen, returned home on June 27 after completing their 14-month mission and the second batch, made up of seven policemen, will return to China by July 30.

A province of Serbia, Kosovo has been under UN administration since the end of Kosovo war in June 1999.