Two Kosovo Albanian policemen held in Serbia released

BELGRADE - Agence France-Presse

Members of the Serbian gendarmerie (top) detain two armed police officers from Kosovo near Merdare border crossing point between Kosovo and Serbia March 31, 2012. REUTERS Photo

Serbian authorities today released two ethnic Albanian policemen from Kosovo who had been arrested on suspicion of entering Serbia's territory, local media reported.
 
"They were questioned and released but the case is still under investigation," investigative judge Ivan Rakic told the Beta news agency.
 
A spokesman for the Kosovo police confirmed that the men were released and have arrived back in Kosovo.
 
According to spokesman Arber Beka, the EU rule of law mission mediated the release of the men arrested on Saturday close to the Merdare border crossing while patrolling the region.
 
Serbian police said at the time that they had entered into Serbian territory, but Kosovo authorities claimed the arrest happened on the Kosovo side.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and is recognised by 89 countries, including the United States and a majority of EU member states.
 
However, Belgrade does not recognise the move and still considers Kosovo as its southern province, leading to continued tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.

Kosovo authorities last month arrested five Serbian policemen from the eastern Kosovo town of Gnjilane suspected of "exerting undue pressure" on local Serbs there not to recognise Kosovo government agencies.
 
They were released over the weekend.