The head of Kosovo's leading political party said, during a forum attended by Balkan leaders and U.S. diplomats, that NATO peacekeepers should remain indefinitely to protect against external threats and to add stability. In the future, it may have a different role, a presence in the region with bases in Kosovo. Until that time, KFOR will support U.N. police, who have their hands full. There have been more than 620 murders since peacekeepers entered Kosovo last year, with 184 committed between Jan. 1 and the beginning of September. Many of those are the result of ethnic violence between Albanians and Serbs, political violence among Albanians trying to jockey for power in the province or Albanians settling scores with others.
Kidnapping is a substantial problem in Kosovo.
Most victims are women forced into prostitution by criminal groups, U.N police say. Theft and burglary remain the highest forms of crime reported. While Ortu o and other officials say Albanian attacks on Serbs have declined, there has been an increase in politically motivated violence. More than two dozen people from various parties have been killed this year. KFOR and police officials say some former KLA members are committing the murders.