YUGOSLAVIA: UNREST IN KOSOVO GROWING

Created: 3/28/1989

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

VUCOSI-AVIA: Unrest Inrowing

thnic Albanians attackedd vehicles yesterday in Kosovo Pmi incr. orolrMing 'i>.rnily passed amendments to the Serbian constitution that reduce the autonomy of Ihcir mainly Albanian province. There had been scattered demonstrations over ihe weekend, and press reports indicateocal police chiefolice officer were slioi dead during protests yesterday. Police ere increasingly resorting to tear gas and force to break up demonstrations, and unconfirmed reports suggest four Albanians have been killed. Press reports indicate several hundred ethnic Albanian^vavebecnjTTcsied so far. primarily on misdemeanor

demonstrations arc likely today when Serbian

constitutional amendments formally become law. Although they arc likely to be contained by heavy police pressure, sporadic violence and civil disobedience among ethnic Albanians probably will continue, and the risk of uncontrolled civil disorder is again growing. The reported deaths arc the first attributed to the demonstrations. They probably portend more isolated shooting at police and might )rovokc greater police repression and violence against demonstrators.

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