Thousands attend anti-government protest in Kosovo, demand snap election

Thousands of people protested in Kosovo's capital Kosovo on 17 February 2016 demanding the government's resignation and snap elections as the country marked the eight anniversary of its independence from Serbia.

Anger simmered in the country since the government signed an EU-brokered accord with Serbia in August 2015, giving Kosovo’s ethnic Serb minority greater local government powers and the possibility of financing from Belgrade.

The protest, organised by opposition parties who rejected the accord, followed a similar one on 9 January, when demonstrators set fire to the government’s headquarters.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Kosovo opposition protests turn violent in Pristina http://www.europeansources.info/record/kosovo-opposition-protests-turn-violent-in-pristina/

ESO: Background information: Kosovo’s political crisis suggests its citizens are no longer willing to accept large-scale electoral fraud http://www.europeansources.info/record/kosovos-political-crisis-suggests-its-citizens-are-no-longer-willing-to-accept-large-scale-electoral-fraud/

Balkan Insight, 18.02.16: Kosovo Opposition Gives Ultimatum to Govt http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/major-kosovo-opposition-protest-ends-peacefully-02-17-2016

The Sofia Globe, 18.02.16: Kosovo opposition demands government resignation, snap elections http://sofiaglobe.com/2016/02/18/kosovo-opposition-demands-government-resignation-snap-elections/

Balkan Insight, 17.02.16: Kosovo Protesters Take To Streets Again http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/kosovo-protesters-take-to-streets-again-02-17-2016

Deutsche Welle, 17.02.16: Kosovo protesters demand government resignation on independence day http://dw.com/p/1Hwxd

Euronews, 17.02.116: Mass anti-government rally in Pristina to mark Kosovo independence http://www.euronews.com/2016/02/17/mass-anti-government-rally-in-pristina-to-mark-kosovo-independence/

EUObserver, 22.02.16: [Opinion] EU and US need new Kosovo game plan https://euobserver.com/opinion/132385

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