Kosovo opposition lawmakers hurl tear gas in parliament: Video
Angry opposition lawmakers in Kosovo have thrown tear gas in the parliament chamber during a noisy protest over a government deal with Serbia that would give the country's Serb-majority areas greater powers.
On Thursday, the furious lawmakers released tear gas from two small boxes which were placed near the parliament podium.
The parliament session was immediately cancelled as smoke filled the chamber.
Medical authorities dispatched at least four ambulances outside the parliament to provide first aid to those affected by the incident.
At least two worst affected female parliamentarians were rushed to hospital to receive necessary treatment for tear gas inhalation.
Earlier, opposition lawmakers tried to delay the session by throwing eggs and blowing whistles at governing coalition MPs.
Also last month, the opposition pelted Premier Isa Mustafa to prevent him from addressing parliament over the ongoing dialogue with Serbia.
The government in a statement strongly denounced the opposition's latest "violent behavior", saying it had "exceeded all bounds of institutional and democratic behavior."
Opposition members have been furious over an accord brokered by the EU in August between Kosovo's government and Serbia.
However, the EU has hailed the accord as a "landmark" in normalizing relations between the two sides.
As part of the recent deal, Kosovo agreed to give more legislative and financial right to its minority Serb community. It has also set up Serb-run municipalities that allow for greater autonomy.
Opposition parties believe that the move could deepen the ethnic divide in Kosovo.
Kosovo, whose population is predominantly ethnic Albanian, declared independence from Serbia in 2008. It has so far received international recognition from about 100 countries. However, Belgrade refuses to recognize Kosovo's independence.
Kosovo and Serbia were at war from 1998 to 1999, which ended after Serbian armed forces withdrew from the territory.
Serbian forces, under the command of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, waged a violent crackdown on separatist Kosovo Albanians.
After Milosevic was ousted in October 2000, Serbian justice gradually started investigations into the crimes committed during the Kosovo conflict which left some 13,000 people, mostly ethnic Albanians, dead.
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