Scenes of violence at Kosovo’s parliament during which opposition MPs released tear gas to prevent the election of a new president were “extremely worrying,” the European Union said Saturday.
The protests took place Friday as the parliament gathered to elect a new head of state in an election marred by violence both inside the chamber and on the streets of Pristina.
Kosovo’s opposition MPs are furious over a government deal with Serbia to create an association giving greater powers to Kosovo’s Serb minority – a move they fear will increase the influence of Belgrade.
Despite the unrest MPs elected foreign minister and former premier Hashim Thaci as president.