Hundreds of troops heading to Kosovo

GERMANY: The German military says it will deploy a quick reaction force of several hundred troops to Kosovo to strengthen the Nato mission there amid heightened tensions ahead of next month’s election in neighbouring Serbia.

By The Newsroom

Published 22nd Apr 2012, 01:00 BST

Central command spokesman Hauke Bunks said about 550 German soldiers and some 130 Austrian troops will be deployed to the region by 1 May.

Bunks said Nato is seeking to strengthen its KFOR mission there “because of its evaluation of the current security situation in Kosovo”. Serbia will hold parliamentary and local elections on 6 May which could reignite tensions between minority ethnic Albanians and majority Serbs in northern Kosovo.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and is recognised by many countries, including most EU nations and the United States.