Anti-riot forces of western peacekeepers moved to contain a clash between rival Serbs yesterday in the Kosovan town of Kosovska Mitrovica.
Supporters of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic clashed with supporters of the presidential opposition challenger, Dr Vojislav Kostunica. Pro-Milosevic Serbs hurled apples and potatoes at Dr Kostunica when he spoke to them and smashed windows in his car and those of his party members and accompanying journalists.
After a brief press conference Dr Kostunica was escorted from the town by the NATO peacekeeping force Kfor who provided heavy protection throughout the rest of the day's visit in northern Kosovo.
Violence erupted again between rival Serbs in the village of Zubinpotak when eggs were hurled at the candidate and his entourage and sporadic clashes erupted in the crowd. Dr Kostunica said: "I feel ashamed about what I saw here but I am not surprised."
He said those who caused the trouble were "a group of people who received money for this and a group of policemen in civilian clothes".
On return to Serbia proper, Dr Kostunica said Kfor had been "negligent" in Kosovska Mitrovica. However, some party officials alleged that the ringleaders were policemen from Kosovska Mitrovica and a leading member of Mr Milosevic's Socialist Party.