Security fears prompt EU to move Kosovo office

By Matt Robinson

PRISTINA (Reuters) - European Union officials in charge of laying the ground for the EU supervisory mission in Kosovo have been moved from the Serb-dominated north because of security concerns.

A Serbian flag now hangs from the balcony of their northern sub-office, a converted hotel in the Serb stronghold of north Mitrovica. It stands empty, locked and guarded by two Kosovo Serb police officers.

"They were relocated to the south, about a week ago," an international official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

One of the police guards said the EU mission would "never come to the north".

Asked about the relocation, an EU spokesman in Kosovo, Andy McGuffie, told Reuters: "We don't comment on staff security matters. We intend to remain in the north."

The 2,000-strong EU rule of law mission is taking over supervision of Kosovo from the United Nations after it declared independence from Serbia on Sunday and won recognition from the United States and major EU powers.

Overseen by EU civil administrator Peter Feith, it is the EU's biggest "nation building" undertaking. But imposing its authority in the Serb-dominated north has proved an immediate challenge.

PRISONERS TRANSFERRED