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Kosovo police arrest dozens

PRISTINA, Kosovo - Police entered the headquarters of Kosovo's main opposition party Saturday and arrested dozens of people, including one of its leaders who was wanted for the violent actions he has used to disrupt the country's Parliament.

Kosovo police in riot gear detain a supporter of the opposition party during a raidat opposition headquarters in Pristina.
Kosovo police in riot gear detain a supporter of the opposition party during a raidat opposition headquarters in Pristina.Read moreVISAR KRYEZIU / AP

PRISTINA, Kosovo - Police entered the headquarters of Kosovo's main opposition party Saturday and arrested dozens of people, including one of its leaders who was wanted for the violent actions he has used to disrupt the country's Parliament.

Police said Albin Kurti and 86 others were arrested at the Self-Determination Movement Party's headquarters after tens of thousands of opposition supporters held a peaceful protest against the government's deals with Serbia and Montenegro.

During the last three months, opposition lawmakers in Kosovo have disrupted Parliament work with tear gas, pepper spray, whistles, and water bottles, demanding that the government renounce a deal with Serbia giving more powers to ethnic-Serb communities in Kosovo, and another with Montenegro on border demarcation. Another opposition lawmaker already had been arrested for the disruptions; two others still are sought by police.

Organizers said Saturday's rally, on neighboring Albania's national Independence Day, also celebrated by Kosovo Albanian brethren, attracted about 35,000 participants at the Zahir Pajaziti Square in downtown Pristina.

"The government turned the festivities into a day of violence," the three opposition parties said in a joint statement.

Despite a police arrest warrant for him, Kurti spoke at the rally and was later accompanied by supporters to the party headquarters, which were immediately surrounded by police.

Some opposition supporters tried to push police away from the road, but they were forced back by police who used pepper spray against them. Then police forces were seen entering the building and bringing out several opposition supporters.

Police said that two policemen and two opposition supporters were injured during the scuffling when they entered the party headquarters and were confronted by people who were hitting them with hard objects, chairs, and other items.

The opposition said around 100 people were under arrest and a "considerable number" were injured.

The opposition has said it will continue to disrupt Parliament work until the deals are renounced, while the government has accused the opposition of trying to come to power by force.

The next Parliament session is set for Monday.