The Serbs are protesting against the return of ethnic-Albanians to homes in predominantly Serb areas of the city, which the European Union's EULEX security mission started to push ahead with this week. They were dispersed by tear gas after trying to cross into an Albanian area.
Kosovo's minority Serb population, which is dominant in the north of the territory, began to protest last week in Brdjani, where the EU mission is trying to rebuild houses belonging to Albanians that were razed during the 1999 war.
The Serbs demand a ban on the return of ethnic Albanians until the same opportunity is provided to Serbs in the southern, Albanian-majority part of Mitrovica, which is split into mainly Albanian and Serb sections by the Ibar River.
"Several years ago the Serbs and Albanians agreed to draw a 'yellow line' dividing the Albanian Sukhoi district and the Serbian Brdjani district," a police official in Kosovo told RIA Novosti. "They agreed to do nothing without agreeing with each other, but the Albanians didn't follow the agreement and started rebuilding their homes, ignoring the agreement."
According to the official, the Serbs insist the agreement is honored and oppose the Albanians crossing the yellow line.
"That's why these incidents have been going on for several days," he said, adding: "I'm afraid that these [protests] will become much larger."
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said on Wednesday that there is a growth in the destabilization of northern Kosovo that could lead to an escalation of tensions throughout the region, adding that "balanced actions in the interests of all parties are needed."
"The use of international police and activities against Serbs is unacceptable," Nesterenko said.
Local Serb representative Sinisa Lazic said that the Serbs are not against the Albanians returning to Serbian soil if the Albanians agree to the return of Serbs to their homes in Albanian areas.
"That's why we are holding these protests and plan to continue them," Lazic said.
It is estimated that some 300 people will participate in Friday's protests.
Tensions flared on Monday when EU police, backed by the NATO-led peacekeeping force KFOR, fired teargas at Serbian demonstrators attempting to enter an ethnic-Albanian area of Mitrovica.
"We had a couple of incidents today in Mitrovica - one in Brdjani, one at the bridge - and afterwards two hand grenade attacks - one against our police officers and another against KFOR," Christophe Lamfalussy, a EULEX spokesman in Kosovo, was quoted by Deutsche Welle as saying on Monday.
KFOR took control of Brdjani on Monday, entering the area with tanks and heavy machinery.
Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008, but has only been recognized by 56 of the 192 UN member states.
