YUGOSLAVIA: KOSOVO ALBANIANS PROTEST POWER GRAB

Created: 3/24/1989

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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YUGOSLAVIA: Kosovo Albanians Proiest Power Grab

thnic Albanians proiesied ihe passage yesterday of constitutional amendments giving Serbia more power over Kosovo, according lo Yugoslav press reports. Hclmctcd police armed with automatic rifles stood guard outside the Kosovo legislature as il voted.ocal parly official claimed anyone voting against the changes would be commilting polilical suicide. After they heard how the vote went, some demonstrators took to the streets, throwing rocks and bricks and firing guns at security officials. The latter thwarted an attempted march from Urosevac. where most of the protests have taken place, to Phslina. the capital, and isolated the town. The militia used tear gas and rubber truncheonsjp break up the protests: injuries were reported on both sit

[Serbian Party leader Milosevic and his supporters succeeded in intimidating the predominantly Albanian Kosovo leaders by playing on Iheir fears of losing their privileged positions and ofa federal takeover of the province. The authorities appear to be in control of the demonstrations, and Albanians probably will reven to peaceful work boycotts and sit-insew days or sporadic street protests. Ifprotcsis continue longer, the authorities probably will retaliate with more tear gas, truncheons, and water cannon^

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