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KDOM Update Released by the Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs, Office of South Central European Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, January 29, 1999

(Editor's Note: With the progressive changeover of responsibility from KDOM to OSCE/KVM, the KDOM Daily Report has been replaced by this Update, which is published as material becomes available.)

Compiled by EUR/SCE (202-647-5624) from daily reports of the U.S. element
of the Kosovo Diplomatic Observers Mission and other sources

January 29, 1999

Yesterday afternoon and evening, fighting intensified in the Podujevo region near the village of Gornja Lapastica where VJ tanks and artillery pounded KLA positions west of the village. Indicative of the seriousness of the situation, KLA reportedly placed command-detonated mines in Konjusevac to provide protection for its positions along the heights overlooking the Pristina-Podujevo road. Despite the heavy fighting, a senior KLA official claims his organization took no casualties. KDOM patrols passed through Podujevo itself yesterday and reported that the town was relatively calm with only a light Serbian VJ and police presence.

Generally, calm prevailed throughout the rest of Kosovo yesterday. Today, however, we see reports of what could prove to be yet another massacre of civilians in the village of Rogovo (between Prizren and Djakovica). Serb authorities say that fighting in the village resulted in the death of 19 KLA soldiers and one Serb policeman. KVM reports, however, that in their initial investigation they saw about 20 bodies dressed in civilian clothes. The KVM investigation of the incident continues.

In another incident today, fighting broke out near the village of Kisela Banja (20 km. north of Pristina) when a VJ bulldozer went off the road. In trying to recover the equipment, the VJ used tanks to open fire on KLA positions. KVM and KDOM patrols investigating the shooting were ordered out of the area by Serb authorities.

In the southeastern region, villagers in Djeneral Jankovic reported to the KVM that the VJ has been harassing them for the past 2 weeks. In the nearby village of Nike, residents reported that VJ "para-military" set fire to offices of the Silkapor brick factory. Villagers in Ogusaj reported the VJ detained and beat a local ethnic Albanian youth for no known reason. In yet another area village, Firaje, inhabitants told KVM that the VJ set fire to a fodder-filled barn.

KVM and KLA both report that Serbian police maintain a high state of readiness in western Kosovo and that they continue to reinforce their positions in the Junik region, the site of heavy fighting several months ago. The KLA believes that the Serbs are planning another round of fighting in this area soon.

Wet and cold weather continues throughout Kosovo.

[End of Document]

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