The tensions in the north of Kosovo with the local Serbs, who have set up barricades and where  explosions and gunshots have been witnessed, have also been reported in the international press.

In one of its articles, CNN writes that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti called on NATO peacekeeping troops to intervene, due to the events that have taken place.

Kurti asked KFOR, a NATO-led international peacekeeping force, to guarantee “freedom of movement” as he accused “criminal gangs” of blocking the roads.

In recent weeks, the Serb minority in Northern Kosovo has responded with violent resistance to Prishtina’s moves in regards to the conversion of illegal Serbian license plates to Republic of Kosovo ones, which many of them have seen as anti-Serb. The Kosovar authorities also postponed the local elections to April next year.

Among other things, the article states that NATO intervened during the war in 1998-1999 and in 2008, when Kosovo declared independence, which Serbia does not recognize. Belgrade and Prishtina are holding talks in Brussels to try to normalize relations and the EU has already presented a plan two both sides.