Activists Interrupt Kosovo President's Inauguration

Opposition Vetevendosje activists threw tear gas to interrupt the inauguration of Kosovo's new President, Hashim Thaci, in Pristina on Friday.

The inauguration ceremony on the Skedenderbeu boulevard was briefly halted while the police arrested some of the perpetrators.

"We must continue our European journey and dialogue with Serbia because our citizens wants membership of NATO as soon as possible," Thaci said during his first presidential speech, adding that he will be "the guardian of the constitution".

Former President Atifete Jahajaga handed the constitution to President Thaci as a symbol of his duties in office.

"Protect our state constitution whose purpose is that all citizens  are free, love their country and are equal in front of the law," Jahjaga said.

The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, the President of Albania, Bujar Nishani, the President of Croatia, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, the EU Special Representative of Kosovo, Samuel Zhbogar and representatives from the US, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Belgium and others attented the ceremony.

Citizens who wished to observe the ceremony faced barricades surrounding the square, leaving the ceremony open only to invited guests.

Qazim Alia, who came to see the ceremony, said it probably should not have been planned because of the poverty in the country.

Thaci was sworn on Thursday at a parliamentary session boycotted by opposition.

Parliament elected Thaci on February 26 in the absence of opposition deputies who earlier tried to disrupt the vote.

Kosovo has been facing a months-long political crisis. The opposition  bitterly contests two controversial deals made by the government, one with Serbia to give more rights to local Serbs and a border...