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MUP and VJ forces who were seen "processing" a
large group of IDPs. Later, members of the MUP forces
were seen to be physically forcing around 40,000 IDPs to
leave Istinic and by 13 September, nearly all of these
people had been removed. In nearby Decane KDOM noted an
increased VJ presence as well as evidence of the recent
burning of homes. In addition, in Glodjane, two witnesses
described to KDOM the attack on the village and the
methodological and organised manner in which it was
looted and some of the houses burned once the majority of
the population had fled to Istinic. US KDOM noted
instances of apparently deliberate well contamination in
this area, a practice which was also reported in the
region of Pagarusa35. On 11 September a large number of armoured vehicles were observed in the area south of Pec and a strong MUP presence was noted in the Istinic area. KDOM also noticed large amounts of smoke coming from Drenovac. Additionally, there were reports that the MUP had begun renewed aggressive action in the Drenica region south of Srbica, focusing on Likovac. Subsequently, the Serbian authorities in Kosovo announced that the UCK had suffered "total defeat" in the area between Decane and Klina. By mid September, parts of southern Prizren were clearly deserted, as the inhabitants had moved towards the centre of the town. Residents of Ljubicevo, to the south, described recent VJ/MUP operations in their area and told of the shelling of Jesoko as well as Ljubicevo, during which they fled to the mountains. On 3 September they saw various police units looting their village, who then burned most of the buildings, as well as cars and tractors, on their departure. On 13 September, EU KDOM observed that most of the buildings the village of Likovac, in Drenica, had been destroyed and there was evidence of direct fire upon them. MUP forces, armed civilians and VJ troops with mortars and armoured vehicles maintained a presence in the centre of the village. In addition, by mid-September there was new action by Serbian/FRY forces in the Shala region, south east of Kosovska Mitrovica, and in the Podujevo area. EU KDOM observed shelling and one village burning in these areas and, on patrol moving northwards from Stari Trg towards Bare, noted that many houses beside the road were burning and fields were scorched. The corridor between Kosovska Mitrovica and Vucitrn was under attack by the VJ and MUP and Russian KDOM observed the deployment of VJ and police forces in an arc between Pristina and Podujevo. On 21 September, US KDOM visited the village of Lepaje, near Dobrotin, in this area, and found some burnt human remains. Locals reported that on 15 September, first thing in the morning, Serbian police and VJ arrived with tanks and other vehicles. Witnesses stated that thirty homes in Lepaje itself were surrounded and the occupants not permitted to leave for three hours, whereupon they fled. KDOM found no evidence of fighting in the area but there had clearly been a systematic and deliberate burning of houses, livestock and food supplies.
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