Serb UN employee found dead

K-For and the UN have tried to keep Serbs and Kosovo Albanians apart

The United Nations in Kosovo has launched an investigation into the killing of an ethnic Serb working for its mission in the province.

The man, Petar Topoljski, was found stabbed to death in a village near the capital, Pristina, a week after he went missing from his job as a translator for the UN. He was found earlier this week and identified on Tuesday.

He was abducted after his name and address were published in a local Albanian language newspaper, Dita, which accused him of war crimes.

I would do the same thing again if such a case came up

Dita's editor

UN officials say this is the clearest case so far of a media incitement to violence. One UN official, who did not want to be named, said that in the current environment naming a Serb and saying he was a paramilitary was like issuing a death warrant.

'Hate speech'

The BBC's Nicholas Wood in Pristina says the case is a serious embarrassment for the UN itself.

Mr Topoljski had apparently been threatened by fellow Albanian members of staff. In spite of this he was sent by his immediate superior to collect an airline ticket from a travel agency in the middle of Pristina.

We have tried to create the conditions of security for all our staff. But those intent on killing have found a way to their goal

Bernard Kouchner, UN Kosovo mission

UN media monitors also came across the Dita article when it was first published, but no action was taken.

In February this year the UN commission in Kosovo issued new laws designed to tackle so-called hate speech in the media. The punishments can extend to eight years in prison. So far there have not been any prosecutions.

The head of the UN mission in Kosovo, Bernard Kouchner, condemned the killing.

"This news is a terrible blow, not only to the family and friends of Mr Topoljski, but also to all the staff. We have tried to create the conditions of security for all our staff. But those intent on killing have found a way to their goal," Mr Kouchner said.

Editor unrepentant

Correspondents report that Kosovo Albanians are frustrated by the slow progress of the legal system in the province in dealing with people they believe are their former oppressors.

K-For peacekeepers have at times been deployed to guard Serbs

In the article published on 27 April, Dita named Mr Topoljski, described his place of work and mentioned another building he frequently visited. It carried a picture of Mr Topoljski and gave his address. It said he and his relative had been active in a district of Pristina during last year's Nato bombing.

"They robbed, looted, beat and expelled their Albanian neighbours from their houses. They terrorised the residents of this neighbourhood continuously," Dita said.

The paper's editor, Behlul Becaj, said he was sorry Mr Topoljski had been killed but he insisted his paper had only done its job.

"I would do the same thing again if such a case came up," Mr Becaj said.