Guards prevent attack on Kosovo PM's residence

Pristina: Security guards exchanged fire with a man trying to enter the house of Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci late on Friday, in what the government said was an attack on the home.

Thaci was not in the building at the time of the incident. Police say guards spotted a man on the balcony of the Pristina home and there was an exchange of fire.

Family unhurt

Thaci's wife and son were in the house, but were unhurt.

"The attackers ran away in an unknown direction. We believe one of the suspects was injured," police said yesterday.

It was not clear how many people were involved. The government said it had stepped up security for cabinet officials after what it called an "attack" on Thaci.

"This is a very serious event," deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuci said.

Thaci is an ethnic Albanian former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, which fought a guerrilla war against Serb forces in the province in 1998-99.

Nato bombed in 1999 and drove out Serb forces to halt the killing and ethnic cleansing of Albanian civilians.

Thaci became prime minister in January, and Kosovo declared independence from Serbia the following month, after nine years as a ward of the UN.

President Fatmir Sejdiu condemned the incident.

"This is an attack not only against Thaci and his family but against the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo," he said.