Serbia: Kosovan MP releases teargas in Parliament for fourth time in month

A Kosovan lawmaker released several tear gas canisters during a postponed session of parliament in Pristina, Friday, the fourth such stunt in the last three weeks. Legislators and members of the press were forced to leave the parliament chamber as tear gas billowed and filled the room. The protest comes as opposition MPs dispute an EU-brokered agreement with Serbia to grant a greater autonomy to ethnic Serb areas of Kosovo, a proposal the MPs say threatens the nascent independence of the country. Opposition MPs have vowed to continue their disruption of parliament until the deal is rescinded, along with another deal clarifying Kosovo's border with its western neighbour Montenegro. Also on Friday, ten protesters were arrested as police and opposition party supporters clashed outside the parliament building. Police fired teargas whilst protesters threw Molotov cocktails, with one officer injured in the clashes and two protesters treated for exposure to teargas. On October 8, the leader of the far-right 'Vetevendosje' (Self-determination) party, Albin Kurti, threw a tear-gas grenade in parliament as members gathered for a parliamentary session. The session was immediately cancelled and two female lawmakers were reportedly taken to hospital.