Interior Ministry: Four "Kosovo Police" members detained, one held

BELGRADE - The Serbian Ministry of Interior confirmed to Tanjug on Thursday four members of the so-called Kosovo Police had been detained at a border crossing with Croatia on Wednesday and that one of them - a deputy director of Pristina's police - was being held by Serbian authorities.

The ministry said they had been detained for security checks at the Batrovci crossing.

In a statement on Wednesday, the ministry dismissed as unfounded allegations by Pristina that buses with licence plates issued in the territory of Kosovo-Metohija had been held back at the crossing.

It also said checks of all passengers had been stepped up at border crossings - including for security checks aimed at ensuring greater safety and security to citizens - potentially resulting in longer delays.

Pristina-based media reported earlier that hundreds of people from Kosovo-Metohija had been stuck at Batrovci and not allowed to continue their trips.

Pristina officials blamed Belgrade for retaliating in the wake of a decision by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to adopt a recommendation in favour of the so-called Kosovo's admission to the CoE.