KOSOVO: FIGHTING ESCALATES IN TOWN OF PANTINA

(28 Jun 1998) Albanian/Nat

Rounds of gunfire and explosions were exchanged between Serb forces and ethnic Albanian guerrilla fighters outside Pristina on Saturday as the conflict in Kosovo appeared to be escalating.

The fighting took place in Pantina, a town 25 kilometres (15 miles) west of the capital Pristina and a new flash point for clashes between the two sides.

The renewed fighting came as U-S envoy Richard Holbrooke, fresh from a failed four-day mission to the region, predicted Kosovo could erupt into a full blown war.

Guerrilla fighters for the Kosovo Liberation Army, or K-L-A, patrolled the corn fields and rolling hills around the town of Pantina, dodging new bullets with their Serbian foes.

The fighters traded machine gun fire with the Yugoslav army from their hilltop positions.

The K-L-A members crawled across the barren hills, taking cover as explosions could be heard in the distance.

There were no reported fatalities in the latest clashes.

Ethnic Albanians control at least half the town of Pantina and were heavily armed with shotguns and rifles to defend their half from the Serbs.

Friday and Saturday saw increased fighting there in the overall ethnic conflict that has claimed 300 lives since it erupted in March.

New Serb movements of tanks and troops near Albanian rebel strongholds have indicated that a renewed crackdown by Serb forces could be in the works.

This comes despite growing international pressure for Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to ease the crackdown or face possible a military response.

U-S envoy Richard Holbrooke, who ended a four-day mission to the region without reaching a cease fire, warned on Saturday that Kosovo is on the brink of an all out war.

In the latest clashes, smoke could be seen billowing from buildings in Pantina, which houses an army base used by the Yugoslav soldiers.

One K-L-A fighter who spoke on camera claimed the fighting began after Serb forces fired upon ethnic Albanian residents of a nearby village.

SOUNDBITE: (Albanian)
"It started two days ago when the people from Svinjare (village near Pantina) were wounded. After they (the Serb forces) shot these people, they left their camouflage jackets and they ran away."
SUPER CAPTION: Kosovo Liberation Army fighter

Kosovo's Albanian political leaders also appear to be in the fight for the long haul.

On Saturday, several officials once loyal to moderate leader Ibrahim Rugova founded a new party to unite with more radical elements.

The rebel forces appear to be gaining momentum and even Rugova himself has admitted having no influence over their actions.

The renewed tension is unwelcome news for Albanians living in the area, many of whom are packing up and moving out to escape harm's way.

The refugees appear convinced that as bullets continue to fly, a solution to the conflict seems nowhere in sight.

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