Post by radovic on Nov 16, 2007 16:16:15 GMT -5
Four injured in Novi Pazar clashes
16 November 2007 | 13:32 -> 16:06 | Source: B92
NOVI PAZAR -- Two rival groups of Serbian Muslims have clashed outside the Altum-alem mosque in Novi Pazar.
One person received gunshot wounds during the troubles, while two policemen and another civilian were hurt from stones hurled.
Police General Mladen Kuribak told Tanjug that four people had received minor injuries during the clashes that took place at around midday today.
“Two police officers and one citizen were struck by stones and bricks, while one civilian was shot,” said Kuribak. According to him, the situation in Novi Pazar had been brought under control.
The police’s arrival averted an escalation of the violence in front of the mosque, said the police officer, adding that prayers were over and that citizens had dispersed, though the police had remained in front of the mosque.
An investigation is under way into what started the incident, said Kuribak.
Current reis Adem Zilkiæ’s supporters who have been praying outside the mosque since November 6, today tried to enter the building, and were stopped by a group loyal to former reis Muamer Zukorliæ, who were already inside. The police intervened and are currently blocking access to the building.
The feud over the mosque has been going on for 10 days, ever since the Islamic Community led by Zukorliæ undertook renovations to the building, a move slammed by Adem Zilkiæ’s supporters.
Islamic Community President in Novi Pazar Sead Šaæiroviæ said that “the police were standing at the front door, a gunshot was heard and Eko Biševac, who was standing in the mosque’s courtyard, fell to the ground.”
“When a group of people led by Hasib Suljeviæ, an imam loyal to Zilkiæ, tried to enter the courtyard of the mosque guarded by supporters of the Serbian Islamic Community led by Zukorliæ, they started hurling stones at us and injured Biševac,” said Šaæiroviæ.
“I stress that absolutely no-one from our side fired any shots,” he added.
According to unofficial reports, Biševac was hit in the collar bone and is currently in the Surgical Department at Novi Pazar Health Center.
A police inspector, Jasmin Duštinac, was also injured when struck in the head by, it is thought, a stone. Duštinac was standing at the mosque’s front door.
Šaæiroviæ added that one other person had been injured who had been standing in the courtyard at the time, although he did not know whether by a bullet or a stone.
In a statement, the Serbian Islamic Community said that it condemned the attack on worshipers who had been praying in the mosque’s courtyard.
Worshipers had tried to enter the mosque to make way for passing traffic, according to the statement, adding that prayers had been led by Suljeviæ.
“That’s when they were attacked by supporters of Zukorliæ, who threw stones and fired shots into the crowd, and in so doing, injured several people, including members of the police,” the statement claimed.
16 November 2007 | 13:32 -> 16:06 | Source: B92
NOVI PAZAR -- Two rival groups of Serbian Muslims have clashed outside the Altum-alem mosque in Novi Pazar.
One person received gunshot wounds during the troubles, while two policemen and another civilian were hurt from stones hurled.
Police General Mladen Kuribak told Tanjug that four people had received minor injuries during the clashes that took place at around midday today.
“Two police officers and one citizen were struck by stones and bricks, while one civilian was shot,” said Kuribak. According to him, the situation in Novi Pazar had been brought under control.
The police’s arrival averted an escalation of the violence in front of the mosque, said the police officer, adding that prayers were over and that citizens had dispersed, though the police had remained in front of the mosque.
An investigation is under way into what started the incident, said Kuribak.
Current reis Adem Zilkiæ’s supporters who have been praying outside the mosque since November 6, today tried to enter the building, and were stopped by a group loyal to former reis Muamer Zukorliæ, who were already inside. The police intervened and are currently blocking access to the building.
The feud over the mosque has been going on for 10 days, ever since the Islamic Community led by Zukorliæ undertook renovations to the building, a move slammed by Adem Zilkiæ’s supporters.
Islamic Community President in Novi Pazar Sead Šaæiroviæ said that “the police were standing at the front door, a gunshot was heard and Eko Biševac, who was standing in the mosque’s courtyard, fell to the ground.”
“When a group of people led by Hasib Suljeviæ, an imam loyal to Zilkiæ, tried to enter the courtyard of the mosque guarded by supporters of the Serbian Islamic Community led by Zukorliæ, they started hurling stones at us and injured Biševac,” said Šaæiroviæ.
“I stress that absolutely no-one from our side fired any shots,” he added.
According to unofficial reports, Biševac was hit in the collar bone and is currently in the Surgical Department at Novi Pazar Health Center.
A police inspector, Jasmin Duštinac, was also injured when struck in the head by, it is thought, a stone. Duštinac was standing at the mosque’s front door.
Šaæiroviæ added that one other person had been injured who had been standing in the courtyard at the time, although he did not know whether by a bullet or a stone.
In a statement, the Serbian Islamic Community said that it condemned the attack on worshipers who had been praying in the mosque’s courtyard.
Worshipers had tried to enter the mosque to make way for passing traffic, according to the statement, adding that prayers had been led by Suljeviæ.
“That’s when they were attacked by supporters of Zukorliæ, who threw stones and fired shots into the crowd, and in so doing, injured several people, including members of the police,” the statement claimed.