Representatives of the Serbian Ministry for Kosovo-Metohija announced on Tuesday that they will discuss the case of five Serbs who were arrested near Gnjilane (eastern KiM) with EULEX, while their defence counsels will appeal to the Supreme Court of Kosovo.

On February 25, the Kosovo police special units arrested a retired registrar and four workers of the Serbian Ministry of the Interior who were in charge of issuing passports and driver's licences at the police department in Gnjilane, which was moved to Vranje in 1999.

The prosecutor demanded that the period of detention be extended by 60 days for fear that they might escape, influence witnesses or repeat their criminal deeds. The decision was delivered on Monday.

State Secretary at the Ministry for Kosovo-Metohija Oliver Ivanovic told Tanjug that he is of the opinion that the decision was politically motivated, and that Pristina is trying to demonstrate force and send a message to Serbs that they should not count on Serbia's assistance.

Serbs will not believe this, Ivanovic said, stressing that the postponement of the trial is unnecessary, and that the authorities will continue to impose pressure on EULEX so as to get binding answers.

Ivanovic said that he is to meet representatives of EULEX in Kosovska Mitrovica on Thursday.

Tanjug learned from Miodrag Brkljac, a defence counsel engaged in this case, that he was informed about the extension of custody via e-mail, and that he will appeal to the Supreme Court of Kosovo.