Kosovo Serb whose arrest caused crisis released from jail

By RADUL RADOVANOVIC and DUSAN STOJANOVIC
Associated Press

JARINJE, Kosovo-Serbia Border (AP) — The lawyer for a former Kosovo Serb policeman has been ordered released from prison and placed under house arrest. The arrest of Dejan Pantic on Dec. 10 has triggered protests by Kosovo Serbs who erected multiple roadblocks in the north of the country. He was detained for allegedly assaulting a Kosovo police officer. Pantic’s lawyer told The Associated Press on Wednesday that a higher Kosovo court replaced his client’s detention with house arrest. Kosovo’s prime minister, Albin Kurti criticized the court’s decision. The US, European Union and Germany expressed concern over the tensions in northern Kosovo. Serbian state media said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic would travel to the border later Wednesday to try persuade Kosovo Serbs to remove the barricades.