Two hurt in explosion at Kosovo Serb cafe

MITROVICA, Serbia, Aug 26 (Reuters) Two people were wounded when a bomb exploded today at a popular Serb cafe in the flashpoint town of Mitrovica, police and witnesses said.

Hundreds of Serbs gathered on the main bridge spanning the river that has divided the town's Serbs and ethnic Albanians since the 1998-99 war.

''Someone passing by threw an explosive device at the cafe,'' said UN police spokesman Larry Miller. He said two people had been wounded and taken to hospital. Witnesses said a UN police officer was also hurt but police could not confirm this.

A police source told Reuters an ethnic Albanian teenager had been arrested fleeing the scene.

Mitrovica has seen some of the worst clashes between Serbs and the Albanian majority since NATO bombs drove Serb forces from the province in 1999 and the United Nations took over.

The 90 per cent Albanian majority is pushing for independence in UN-led talks that began in February and are expected to end within the year.

REUTERS PDM RAI2352