KOSOVO: ZITINJE: K-FOR ATTEMPT TO END LOOTING (2)

(2 Aug 1999) Albanian/Nat
K-FOR troops have moved into a Kosovar village in an attempt to end looting and persuade its Serb inhabitants to return.
The move by U-S peacekeepers came a day after the entire population of the village of Zitinje headed en masse for the border, saying they no longer trusted NATO troops to protect them.
The village of Zitinje is a virtual ghost town after its Serb population decamped on Sunday.
A spate of attacks and house burnings had finally convinced them there was no future for them here.
Many of them were heading for the border. Others said they would try and find somewhere to live in other predominantly Serb villages.
Following the exodus, U-S K-FOR troops moved in to secure the area.
They're hoping that by establishing a high-profile presence in the village they can persuade the Serbs it's safe to come back.
On Monday the peacekeepers were still struggling to prevent looting and destruction of Serb property by ethnic Albanians.
Several suspected looters were arrested.
Revenge attacks on Serbs have been a daily feature since NATO troops moved into Kosovo.
More than 100-thousand Serbs have now fled and more are leaving daily, steadily undermining the West's stated goal of a peaceful, multi-ethnic Kosovo.
The Serbs who fled the village of Zitinje on Sunday, heading for Serbia, have stopped in the town of Parteshi.
Serb villagers here have convinced the group to "stand their ground" and stay in Kosovo.
The residents of Zitinje left saying they feared for their lives and were under attack from the KLA .
SOUNDBITE(Serbo-Croat)
"If the Americans are not going to do anything then we have to go somewhere else, or they have to go. We have no choice."
SUPERCAPTION: Vox pop - Villager
Now, they are calling for the departure of all NATO troops from Kosovo and are saying the South East Section of the province should become part of Serbia.
SOUNDBITE (Serbo-Croat)
"This area is part of Serbia - it should not be considered part of Kosovo - we want to be part of Serbia."
SUPERCAPTION: - Vox pop - Villager
It remains to be seen if the villagers will make a stand or continue their trek to Serbia.
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