Kosovo Interior Minister Bajram Rexepi told Kosovo Television on Monday evening that a police operation aimed at taking control over the border crossings of Jarinje and Barnjak, northern Kosovo, was under way.
Kosovo Television reporters confirmed that on Monday evening special police forces had taken control of the Barnjak border crossing, but the local Serbs blocked the road by trucks to prevent them from reaching the other.
Kosovo Television 21 said EULEX was not cooperating with the Kosovo police. Instead, EULEX is blocking access to the Jarinje border crossing, Television 21 said.
EULEX said it learned about the operation from the media, refraining from other comments.
Serbs from northern Kosovo gathered near Leposavic on Monday evening and formed a blockade to prevent Kosovo special forces from stationing at the Jarinje border crossing. Around 60,000 Kosovo Serbs live in the north. They do not recognise Kosovo's statehood and still see Belgrade as their capital.
In an announcement apparently related to the police operation, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci sacked the country's police commander, his office said in a statement. It gave no details.
Last Wednesday Kosovo banned all imports from Serbia. It said this was a reciprocal decision as Serbia has been blocked Kosovo's exports since its independence declaration.
Serbian media cited Serbia's State Secretary for Kosovo as saying that the situation was escalating. "Police are there but they cannot move from there because Serbs have blocked the roads. I think conflict is at the door," said State Secretary Oliver Ivanovic.
Kosovo declared independence on 17 February 2008. So far it has been recognised by 76 countries including the United States and most of the European Union.
