Tear gas disrupts new Kosovo leader’s call for reconciliation

 

Protesters firing tear gas disrupted the inauguration ceremony Friday for Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in the midst of a political crisis over an EU-brokered agreement with old adversary Serbia.

 

Guests at the open-air event in central Pristina coughed and wiped their eyes as tear gas canisters were set off just before Thaci gave his inaugural speech to a 1,000-strong audience including Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and diplomats.

 

Police said 12 people were arrested.