YUGOSLAVIA: KOSOVO: POLJE: SERB VILLAGERS BURN THEIR HOUSES скачать в хорошем качестве

YUGOSLAVIA: KOSOVO: POLJE: SERB VILLAGERS BURN THEIR HOUSES

(16 Jun 1999) English/Nat Entire neighbourhoods have been set ablaze in Kosovo Polje, a predominantly Serb town southwest of the capital, Pristina. Kosovo Polje has strong sentimental attachment for the Serbs. It was the site of the 1389 battle in which the Serbs were defeated by Ottoman Turks, setting the stage for the loss of Kosovo, which Serbia did not regain until 1912. Smoke rises from Kosovo Polje. The flames not the work of retreating Serb soldiers but of Serb villagers. Numerous residents of the Pristina suburb have been setting fire to their own properties. They took their drastic action after rumours spread that the Kosovo Liberation Army (K-L-A) planned to attack the area and kill all Serbs living there. British NATO troops were quick to arrive on the scene. They managed to convince the villagers that the KFOR soldiers would carry out their duties as part of Operation Joint Guardian and protect all those in Kosovo that needed protecting. But by then, this house was already ablaze and villagers said they were planning to flee. SOUNDBITE: (Serb-Croat) "The man who lived here has fled and before he left he burnt his house. Better for him to burn his own house than have someone else do it. The K-L-A is coming here and they're not disarming under the peace agreement like they should." SUPERCAPTION: Mleder Stankovic, Kosovo Polje resident British forces are now patrolling the suburb and trying to dispel any fears the remaining residents may have. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Now that the Yugoslav army has gone the Serb population believes that the K-L-A will be trying to drive them out. But that's not the case - we're on equal sides and will protect any population that comes under threat whether they're Serbs or Albanians." SUPER CAPTION: Sergeant Mark Hart, K-FOR Some media reports are suggesting that ethnic Albanian guerrillas also torched homes in Kosovo Polje after Yugoslav forces withdrew. Kosovo Polje has strong sentimental attachment for the Serbs. It was the site of the 1389 battle in which the Serbs were defeated by Ottoman Turks, setting the stage for the loss of Kosovo, which Serbia did not regain until 1912. And as Serbs pack up their belongings, politicians and religious leaders back in Belgrade are urging them to stay put and hold on to what they regard as the Serbs' heartland. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...