NATO peacekeepers raid brothels

PRISTINA, Yugoslavia (AP) — Several brothels and houses near Pristina were raided by NATO-led peacekeepers and U.N. police in an attempt to curb prostitution rings in Kosovo, a U.N. spokeswoman said Friday.

Police arrested seven people, while 12 women from Moldova were turned over to authorities, said Claire Trevena, a spokeswoman for the United Nations mission in Kosovo.

In an operation that began in the early hours Friday and lasted around six hours, 300 police officers and peacekeepers conducted raids in Kosovo Polje, 6 miles west of Pristina.

"Some of those arrested are being investigated for rape, kidnapping and forcing women into prostitution," said Trevena.

The raids were carried out on both ethnic Albanian and Serb-run establishments.

"The team searched over 20 business and houses in town in an effort targeted at organized prostitution activities believed to be carried out there," said Maj. Steven R. Shappell, spokesman for NATO-led peacekeepers.

Last month, U.N. police formed a specialized unit to deal with human trafficking and prostitution.

Kosovo, a province of Yugoslavia, has been administered by the United Nations since the end of a 78-day air war in June 1999 to force an end to former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's campaign of repression against the ethnic Albanian majority.

"The team searched over 20 business and houses in town in an effort targeted at organized prostitution activities believed to be carried out there," said Maj. Steven R. Shappell, spokesman for NATO-led peacekeepers.

Last month, U.N. police formed a specialized unit to deal with human trafficking and prostitution.

Kosovo, a province of Yugoslavia, has been administered by the United Nations since the end of a 78-day air war in June 1999 to force an end to former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's campaign of repression against the ethnic Albanian majority.

– Associated Press