On Saturday, Serbia denounced the NATO-led peacekeeping force stationed in neighboring Kosovo for its failure to stop Kosovo police’s “brutal actions” against Serbs, and said the country’s armed forces stationed near the border would remain on alert until further notice.

Serbia’s top political and security leadership, led by President Aleksandar Vučić, met on Saturday in Belgrade following violent clashes a day earlier between Kosovo police and Serbs that left at least 10 people injured.

In response to the clashes, Vučić on Friday ordered troops to move closer to the border with Kosovo.

“Due to the brutal use of force by (Kosovo Prime Minister) Albin Kurti and his troops against the Serbian people in Kosovo… the Armed Forces of the Republic of Serbia will remain at the highest level of combat readiness,” the statement said. after a meeting of Serbia’s top leadership on Saturday.

The statement also said that the international civilian mission and NATO-led troops stationed in the former Serbian province since Serbian troops were ousted from the area in 1999 “didn’t do their job” in protecting the Serbs.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Longescu urged “institutions in Kosovo to immediately de-escalate” and called on all parties to “resolve the situation through dialogue.”

He tweeted that NATO “remains vigilant and will ensure a secure environment” in Kosovo.

Serbs in northern Kosovo, who make up the majority in that part of the country, tried on Friday to prevent newly elected Albanian officials from entering municipal buildings. Last month’s early local elections were largely boycotted by Serbs, with only Albanians or other smaller minorities elected to mayor and council positions.

The Kosovo police used tear gas to disperse the crowd and allow new officials to enter their offices. Many cars were set on fire.

The United States and several Western countries have condemned the Kosovo government for using the police to allow entry into municipal buildings. The Prime Minister of Kosovo defended the actions of the police on Saturday.

“Those who are elected in democratic elections have the right to carry out their duties without threats or intimidation,” Kurti tweeted. “It is also the right of citizens to be served by these elected officials. Participation, not violent obstruction, is the right way to express political views in a democracy.”

This is not the first time Vučić has warned that Belgrade will respond to violence against Serbs with a multifold increase in operational readiness at moments of tension with Kosovo. However, any attempt by Serbia to bring its troops across the border would mean a conflict with the NATO troops stationed there.

The conflict in Kosovo erupted in 1998 when separatist Albanians rebelled against Serbian rule and Serbia responded with repression. About 13,000 people, mostly Albanians, died.

NATO’s military intervention in 1999 eventually forced Serbia to withdraw from the territory. Washington and most EU countries have recognized Kosovo as an independent state, but Serbia, Russia and China are not among them.

Source: Associated Press.