The EULEX Mission in Kosovo has declared northern Kosovska Mitrovica and northern Kosovo a dangerous zone for its members, reported the electronic media in Pristina, noting that the measure probably came as a result of the latest attacks on the mission's officials.

In two separate incidents in recent days, four EULEX and one OSCE members were beaten in northern Kosovska Mitrovica by unidentified individuals. EULEX members have been warned to be very cautious in northern Kosovo, and the EU mission wants to know the whereabouts of its officers at all times.

EULEX has also issued new rules for the movement of its members north of the Ibar River, and at Jarinje and Brnjak checkpoints.

EULEX officers who cross to the north should carry cell phones and have their radios on at all times.

The Pristina media are reporting that the recent assaults on EULEX and OSCE officers were orchestrated by a group known as Nova nada Mitrovice.

Outgoing Kosovo's Interior Minister Bajram Redzepi urged the EULEX mission to withdraw from northern Kosovo, after EULEX declared this area a dangerous zone.

The situation in Mitrovica has not changed, and EULEX is not able to operate effectively. Therefore, it should withdraw and let KFOR and the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) safeguard the security, said Redzepi, and Pristina's electronic media reported.