The move is aimed at preventing Serbs from opposing Albanian mayors taking office in some Serb-majority areas of Kosovo after elections they boycotted, Reuters reported.
In the town of Zvecan, Kosovo police, all Albanian after all Serbs left the force last year, fired tear gas to repel a crowd of Serbs who broke through security barriers and tried to storm the town hall, Reuters reported, citing witnesses.
In the town of Leposavic, US troops from the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR) placed barbed wire around the town hall to protect it from hundreds of angry Serbs gathered nearby.
US soldiers from the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR) stand guard in front of the town office, as Serbs protest, in the town of Leposavic, Kosovo, May 29.
Additionally, witnesses said KFOR also blockaded the town hall in the town of Zubin Potok to protect the building from angry local Serbs.
About 50,000 Serbs living in four municipalities in northern Kosovo abstained from the April 23 vote in protest that their demands for greater autonomy had not been met.
Turnout was 3.47% and local Serbs said they would not work with the new mayors in four municipalities, all of whom belong to ethnic Albanian parties.
Serbs are demanding that Kosovo authorities remove ethnic Albanian mayors from city halls and allow Belgrade-funded local authorities to resume their duties.
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