Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in parliament on Tuesday that the Kosovo police special forces were withdrawing from the north because of the international community reacted.

The Kosovo police deployed the ROSU special forces unit to the north in an operation against members of organized crime groups. A statement said that 19 police officers and nine civilians had been arrested. The Customs Service said some of its officers were in custody.

The thing that led to the start of the withdrawal was the reaction of the international community which said that the police used excessive force in the operation, Vucic told MPs.  

Media reports said that the situation was calm but tense following the police operation with people gathering in groups on the streets and schools closed for the day. Two civilians wounded in Zubin Potok were taken to the hospital in Mitrovica. The Beta news agency said that ROSU officers arrested and beat up four Serbs as well as a girl, adding that several others suffered teargas inhalation.