KFOR News Update
Pristina, 29 December 2000
by Major Steven R. Shappell, KFOR Spokesman

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KFOR Facilitates Meeting

KFOR denies a BETA press report that a KFOR spokesman confirmed that a
meeting took place between Serbian government officials and the UCPMB.

KFOR representatives, as part of the ongoing Joint Implementation
Commission process, facilitated a meeting today between key Albanian and
Serbian political leaders in Bujanovac municipality to discuss the
current security situation. The meeting set the stage for a
de-escalation of the conflict.

(The above Press Release was mailed separately from the KFOR Press
Update.)

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Incidents During the Past 24 Hours

Multinational Brigade North

Rifle Found
Yesterday morning, a KFOR Multinational Brigade North patrol found an
SKS rifle in the ruins of a building in the northern part of Mitrovice /
Mitrovica. The soldiers confiscated the weapon.

Mine Found
Yesterday morning, local residents informed KFOR Multinational Brigade
North that they had discovered a mine approximately six kilometers
northwest of Mitrovice / Mitrovica. KFOR Explosive Ordnance Disposal
experts were sent to the scene of the discovery to remove the mine.

Multinational Brigade Centre

House Searched; Weapons Found
Late last night, KFOR Multinational Brigade Centre soldiers searched a
house in the village of Braash / Bradas. Among the illegal items found
and confiscated during the search were a Zastava pistol, four ammunition
magazines, and 77 rounds of ammunition. UNMIK Police arrested two
Kosovar Albanian men in connection with the house search.

Multinational Brigade West

Houses Searched; Weapons Found
Yesterday morning, KFOR Task Force Falco soldiers searched three houses
in the village of Piskote. In one of the houses, the soldiers found
three Zastava pistols, nine ammunition magazines, and 1600 rounds of
ammunition. The soldiers confiscated the illegal items and detained the
owner of the house. The owner of the house was later handed over to
UNMIK Police.

Multinational Brigade South

Man Searched; Weapons Found
Early last night, KFOR Multinational Brigade South Military Police
stopped and searched a man in Suhareke / Suva Reka. During the search,
the Military Police found and confiscated a rifle, three handgrenades
and 270 rounds of ammunition. In connection with this search, KFOR
Multinational Brigade South soldiers searched the man's house. No
additional illegal weapons were found during the house search. The man
was detained by the Military Police.

Explosion Damages Building
Early this morning, an explosion occurred at a building in Ljubizda.
KFOR Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts were sent to the scene of the
blast to investigate. Initial reports indicate that the blast may have
been caused by two handgrenades. There were no reports of injuries in
connection with the explosion, and the building sustained only minor
damage. The incident is under investigation.

Multinational Brigade East

Man Detained
Yesterday afternoon, soldiers from KFOR 2-6 Infantry Battalion detained
a Kosovar Albanian male who was attempting to recover a disabled vehicle
near KFOR Checkpoint 65. The man was detained because he was suspected
of being a member of an ethnic Albanian armed group.

Houses Searched; Weapons Found
Late last night, KFOR Task Force 2-327 Infantry soldiers searched
several abandoned houses in Kllokot / Klokot. During the search, the
soldiers found a Mauser rifle, a bayonet, a pistol and 308 rounds of
ammunition. The soldiers removed the illegal items from Kllokot /
Klokot.