Petkovic: Situation in north of Kosovo-Metohija toughest to date

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic said on Tuesday Belgrade would do everything to preserve peace in Kosovo-Metohija and avert war, but noted that the situation in the north of the province was the toughest to date.

Instead of withdrawing his occupation forces and moving towards de-escalation, Pristina's PM Albin Kurti is deploying more police forces in the north of Kosovo-Metohija, Petkovic said at an extraordinary press conference after Pristina's police arrested Serb Milun Lune Milenkovic in Kosovska Mitrovica earlier in the day.

"How can we head towards de-escalation when Kurti is opposing the international community in this way?" he said.

He added that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had spoken with EU special envoy Miroslav Lajcak on multiple occasions and with many other international...