Kosovo/Kosova As Seen, As Told Bllaq. Approximately eight tanks with armoured personnel carriers, artillery and mortars were used by the VJ. The OSCE-KVM verifiers observed a heavy bombardment of Jeskovo and reported buildings burning. The UCK was reported to have responded by mounting an attack in the area of Zociste/Zocishte (Orahovac) using mortars and heavy machine guns. The OSCE-KVM Prizren Regional Centre commented that the UCK had infiltrated into Jeskovo, a previously deserted village, approximately one week before. Residents in Hoca Zagradska had informed the OSCE-KVM of their concern at this UCK move. The UCK was made aware by the OSCE-KVM that locals and the security forces both saw their 30 presence in the area as a provocation. On 12 March, OSCE-KVM verifiers were invited by the police to visit Jeskovo. The verifiers saw the bodies of seven armed men in black UCK uniforms. All had been killed by small arms fire, according to the police, during the security force operation. The teams were not able to conclude that the UCK members had been killed where they were lying. During the investigation OSCE-KVM verifiers 31 reported seeing approximately 20 to 25 members of the PJP. In such a security force operation, when overrunning an enemy position it is likely that weapons would have been removed out of the victim's arm's reach regardless of whether the victim appeared to be dead or not, and the bodies given initial searches. It is therefore not surprising that bodies appear to have not been found exactly where they were killed and moreover, weapons may well have been placed back close to the bodies in an attempt to project the impression the Yugoslav/Serbian forces felt was needed to be seen by the verifiers. Verifiers from Pec and Prizren OSCE-KVM Regional Centres reported a large security force operation centred on Svrhe/Sverke and Dus/Dush (Klina/Kline municipality) on 14 March. The operation included the use of tanks, mortars and a special combat police unit. The OSCE-KVM teams reported a heavy exchange of fire during the morning. Verifiers gained access to the villages in the afternoon and described heavy damage in Svhre. Four bodies were observed in Dus that appeared to be those of UCK members. 32 Again south of Kosovska Mitrovica, approximately 50 VJ soldiers supported by four tanks and two antiaircraft artillery vehicles attacked Vrbnica/Vernice on or around 15 March. Artillery impacts were observed near Balince/Balince (Vucitrn/Vushtrri municipality) and four houses were seen burning. Approximately 30 rounds of artillery hit the area of Glavotina/Gllavotin and Bivoljak/Bivolak. Bradas/ Bradash (Podujevo) was seen to be shelled on three separate occasions on this date and local sources 33 stated that one person was killed and two wounded. In the south of Kosovo, Korbulic/Korbuliq (Kacanik) was found by OSCE-KVM verifiers to be nearly deserted, the four remaining residents who were about to depart claimed that the VJ had told them to leave on 15 March. Although this could not be confirmed, observers noted that the school had been 34 vandalized, houses looted and some set on fire. The official Yugoslav news agency Tanjug reported that the Yugoslav Army had extended by 30 days the military service of soldiers currently due to be demobilized. The soldiers were to form part of the http://www.osce.org/kosovo/documents/reports/hr/part1/ch3.htm (11 of 16)12/5/2003 11:48:47 AM