Two Serbs injured near Osojane

Radio Television Serbia, Belgrade, Friday, September 22, 2006 22:45

A group of Albanians beat up Tomislav Dabetic and Predrag Zakic in the village of Saljinovac near Osojane.

The attack occurred at about 2:20 p.m. at a moment when two Serbs passing through the forest saw eight men cutting down their trees. Zakic told reporters that after a dispute in the forest the group of Albanians attacked them with axes and sticks.

"Dabetic received a blow to the head with an axe, and I barely managed to escape even though I received multiple blows with axes and sticks to my back," said Zakic.

Dabetic was transferred to the hospital in the KFOR base in Istok where he underwent surgery while Zakic was released after receiving medical treatment.

Local residents of Osojane and the village of Saljinovac, where some 30 Serbs have returned, have asked KFOR to set up a security checkpoint, and UNMIK and Kosovo police to catch the attackers.

The Kosovo police advised that it caught three attackers while the rest are on the run.