KFOR News Update
Pristina, 20 December 2000
by Major Steven R. Shappell, KFOR Spokesman

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Incidents During the Past 24 Hours

Multinational Brigade North

Nothing significant to report.

Multinational Brigade Centre

Traffic Accidents
Yesterday morning, a KFOR vehicle was involved in a traffic accident
with two civilian vehicles northeast of Lipjan / Lipljan. There were no
reports of injuries to any of the vehicle occupants. Just after noon
yesterday, a KFOR French vehicle was involved in a traffic accident with
a civilian vehicle in Pristina. There were no reports of injuries to any
of the vehicle occupants. Both of the accidents are under investigation.


Multinational Brigade West

Unexploded Ordnance Found
Yesterday afternoon, a group of children playing in the village of Beleg
found two closed boxes near where they were playing. The children told a
KFOR Task Force Sauro patrol about their discovery. The patrol cordoned
off the area and summoned KFOR Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts to
the scene. After careful examination, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal
troops safely opened the box. Inside the box were six rocket propelled
grenade rounds. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal troops safely detonated
the grenade rounds at the site.

Multinational Brigade South

Traffic Accident
Last night a KFOR Austrian armored vehicle was involved in a traffic
accident with a civilian vehicle near Suhareke / Suva Reca. No injuries
were reported to the occupants of either vehicle. The accident is under
investigation.

Multinational Brigade East

Man Detained
Late yesterday morning, soldiers from KFOR Task Force 2-327 detained a
man at near the village of Gornje Korminjane. The Kosovar Albanian man
was suspected of being a member of an ethnic Albanian armed group. The
man was transported to Camp Bondsteel where he is being held pending an
investigation.

Arms Cache Intercepted
Very early this morning, soldiers from KFOR 2-6 Infantry Battalion
observed suspicious activity near the boundary. Accordingly, KFOR
soldiers quickly moved to the location of the suspicious activity and
intercepted 13 men and an arms cache near the town of Shurdhan /
Surlane. The 13 men had been traveling in two 4-wheel drive trucks and
two tractors. The team of KFOR soldiers who made the interception
consisted of elements of the KFOR Operational Reserve (The 1st Battalion
The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment) and 2-327th Infantry.

Among the items seized by the soldiers were two rocket propelled grenade
launchers, 30 rocket propelled grenade rounds, 50 handgrenades, eight
anti-tank mines, five AK-47 assault rifles, eight machine guns, two
pistols, seven rifles, a large amount of small arms ammunition, and a
box of explosives. Additionally, the KFOR soldiers found numerous
military uniforms and maps. The soldiers detained the 13 men. At about
the same time, soldiers from KFOR 2-6 Infantry Battalion observed 4 men
loitering in the village of Pidiq / Pidic. The soldiers went to the
village and conducted a cordon and search operation of three houses. No
additional illegal weapons were found during the house search operation.

This quick response by KFOR soldiers to detain the suspicious
individuals and seize a large amount of illegal weapons of war proves
once again that KFOR is dedicated to ensuring that ethnic Albanian armed
groups are not permitted to use Kosovo as a staging area for extremist
activity. Further, this action clearly demonstrates the resolve of KFOR
to ensure that only those with a legitimate reason are permitted to
cross the boundary in to and out of Kosovo.