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KDOM Daily Report Released by the Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs, Office of South Central European Affairs, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC, October 19, 1998

Compiled by EUR/SCE (202-647-4850) from daily reports
of the U.S. element of the Kosovo Diplomatic Observer Mission

October 19, 1998

Four U.S. KDOM teams operated today throughout Kosovo, visiting Srbica, Orahovac, Suva Reka, Prizren, Urosevac, Pec, Istok, and Podujevo. The cease-fire was holding in all areas. For the first time in a week KDOM found no evidence of any clashes between Serbian forces and the KLA. There were a few changes noted in Serbian Police positions and a minor reduction in numbers deployed. KDOM noted that nearly all police posts they saw have now been "winterized."

Teams observed approximately 15 bus loads of Serbian Police apparently leaving Kosovo for Serbia. KDOM determined that the Serb Special Police (JSO) unit formerly at Istok Prison has departed, but another JSO unit remains at Ajvalija Barracks. KDOM has also seen JSO south of Lapusnik. Between Gornja Klina and Istok KDOM noted VJ soldiers present at police checkpoints.

The VJ armored battle group deployed from Pristina yesterday has been located now in offensive positions south of Komorane and Lapusnik. The unit did not go into action today, to the best of KDOM's knowledge. Teams noted that anti-aircraft guns are now missing from the air defense bases in Slatina and Djakovica. In Slatina the team saw the barracks virtually empty and saw no erector launchers or radars associated with air defense. In Djakovica, likewise, the barracks are empty except for a few vehicles on sentry duty. The air defense position NW of the town is still occupied. A VJ combat group of tanks and APC's is still deployed around the village of Kramotzik.

The OESC advance team touring Kosovo has expressed satisfaction with the results of its mission and is confident that OSCE can find the facilities necessary to get the Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM) operative quickly.

KDOM saw a group of IDPs near Kisna Reka who claimed they had fled their homes the previous night following the arrival of VJ units on a nearby hillside. Representatives of the emergency council in Klina told KDOM that 500 inhabitants of their village have been intermixed with 1,200 IDP's from other villages. The villagers are too frightened to return to their homes as Serbian Police remain deployed in the area. A resident of the village of Iglarevo told KDOM that five returnees to his village were killed by Serbian Police and buried in a common grave in Cabic. KDOM cannot confirm this report.

[End of Document]

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