KFOR News Update
Pristina, 18 December 2000
by Major Steven R. Shappell, KFOR Spokesman

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Update on Grenade Explosion in Mitrovice / Mitrovica

This is an update on the two KFOR French soldiers injured in an
accidental grenade explosion Saturday. Late Saturday night, the more
severely injured of the two soldiers was medically evacuated by air to
Percy Military Hospital in Paris, France. Sunday morning, the soldier
passed away at Percy Hospital. KFOR Commander Lt. Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu
extends his deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the soldier.
The incident remains under investigation.

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Incidents During the Past 24 Hours

Multinational Brigade North

Update on Leposaviq / Leposavic
Following the events of Saturday night and Sunday morning in Leposaviq /
Leposavic, the situation there is now calm. Early yesterday afternoon,
the mayor of Leposaviq / Leposavic, the local Serb National Council
leader, the KFOR French Gendarmerie commander and the KFOR Battalion
commander met with the commander of Multinational Brigade North, UNMIK
Police officials and the regional UNMIK administrator in Mitrovice /
Mitrovica. Throughout the afternoon, a small crowd of approximately 150
people gathered in the main square in Leposaviq / Leposavic. The crowd
was calm, and the crowd peacefully dispersed late last night.

Multinational Brigade Centre

Nothing significant to report.

Multinational Brigade West

House Searched; Weapons Found
Early yesterday morning, a KFOR Task Force Falco patrol searched a house
near the Morine / Morina border crossing point. Among the illegal items
found and confiscated by the patrol were an AK-47 assault rifle with
bayonet, three pistols, and 307 rounds of ammunition. The patrol
detained the occupant of the house and later handed him over to UNMIK
Police.

Grenades Found
Last night, a KFOR Task Force Pegasus patrol and a team of KFOR
Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts found three hand grenades near a
house on the north side of Kline / Klina. The owner of the house had
previously voluntarily turned in one hand grenade to the Kline / Klina
police station. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal troops safely removed
the grenades from the house.

Search Operation; Weapon Found
Early yesterday morning, KFOR Task Force Pegasus conducted a cordon and
search operation of five houses in the village of Ujmir / Dobra Voda.
Among the illegal items found and confiscated by the patrol were an
AK-47 assault rifle with bayonet, three AK-47 ammunition magazines and
85 rounds of ammunition. The patrol detained one man in connection with
the operation, and later handed him over to UNMIK Police.

House Searched; Weapon Voluntarily Turned-In
Yesterday morning, a KFOR Task Force Tizona patrol and a Spanish
Military Police Team jointly searched a house in the village of Baje /
Banja. As the search was beginning, a local resident voluntarily turned
in to the search team a Tomson sub-machine gun and 25 rounds of
machine-gun ammunition. Because of the voluntary nature of the man's
action, he was not arrested.

Horse Riders Spotted; Ammunition Found
Late yesterday morning, a KFOR Task Force Falco patrol spotted two men
riding horses near the Morina border crossing point. One of the men was
observed to be carrying an AK-47 assault rifle. When the men saw the
patrol, they rode off leaving two cases on the ground. The patrol
requested assistance from KFOR Task Force Falco Explosive Ordnance
Disposal experts and KFOR Military Police. Immediately after their
arrival, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal troops carefully examined the
boxes to ensure they could be safely opened. Upon opening the cases, the
soldiers found 770 rounds of ammunition.

Unexploded Ordnance Found
Just before noon yesterday, UNMIK Police found an unexploded ordnance
device in Vitomirice / Vitomirica. Upon UNMIK Police request, a team of
KFOR Task Force Astro Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts was sent to
the site of the find and after careful examination safely removed the
device.

Multinational Brigade South

House Searched; Weapons Found
Late last night, UNMIK Police and KFOR Multinational Brigade South
Military Police jointly searched a house in the village of Sapniq /
Sopnic. During the search, the joint team found and confiscated a
handgrenade, 800 grams of explosives and two AK-47 ammunition magazines.
UNMIK Police arrested the owner of the house.

Multinational Brigade East

KFOR Patrol Fired Upon
A KFOR Multinational Brigade East patrol was fired upon at 1:28 p.m.
yesterday as they conducted boundary closure operations near the town of
Karaceve e Eperme / Gornje Karacevo. The patrol consisted of U.S. and
Russian soldiers who returned fire and broke contact with the aggressor
force. There were no injuries. The patrol had just detonated a series of
explosive charges to destroy a section of road when they received small
arms fire from unidentified individuals. These Multinational Brigade
East soldiers were continuing the boundary closure effort to prevent the
flow of supplies and movement of armed ethnic groups across the border.
At this time, no suspects have been detained.

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Media Opportunities

Band Concert
On Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2000, at 7:00 p.m., the Allied Forces Southern
Europe band will perform in the Prishtina / Pristina National Theatre.
The Naples, Italy based band will present a one-hour rock and roll
concert. KFOR Commander Lt. Gen. Carlo Cabigiosu will attend the
concert. Members of the media are cordially invited to attend this event
but must obtain a free ticket from KFOR Media Operations. For more
information, contact KFOR Media Operations in the Coalition Press
Information Centre.

COMKFOR Press Conference
On Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2000 at 11:30 a. m., KFOR Commander Lt. Gen.
Carlo Cabigiosu will his monthly press conference in the UNMIK
Government Building in Prishtina / Pristina. Members of the media are
cordially invited to attend this monthly press conference. The normal
UNMIK press conference will take place immediately afterwards. For more
information, contact KFOR Media Operations in the Coalition Press
Information Center.

Medical Assistance to Shale / Sedlare
On Thursday, Dec. 21, 2000 at 11:00 a.m. KFOR Greek medical doctors will
visit the village of Shale / Sedlare to provide medical assistance to
members of the community. The medical assistance will include exams and
the dispensing of medicines. Members of the media are cordially invited
to attend this event. Transportation will be provided from the Coalition
Press Information Center in Prishtina / Pristina departing at 10:00 am,
and returning by 1:30 p.m. For more information contact Sgt. Maj.
Karalis Lambros in the KFOR Media Operations office.