Kosovo amnesty weapons melted down

Weapons collected by British troops in Kosovo were melted down today as the authorities warned citizens it was their ‘‘last chance’’ to hand over arms.

Hundreds of assault rifles, light machine guns and revolvers have been seized or collected during an arms amnesty over the past four weeks.

The weapons were cut up and melted down at a Dutch-funded furnace in Janjevo, about one hour’s drive from Pristina. The process will take some days.

The furnace was visited today by Kosovan president Dr Ibrahim Rugova and K-For Commander Lieutenant General Marcel Valentin, who watched the destruction process.

Lt Gen Valentin said the amnesty was aimed at the ‘‘good guys’’ - law-abiding citizens who simply had guns in the house.

He said: ‘‘Almost three years after the end of the war this situation must move on. It is time to say ‘no’ to weapons and make Kosovo a safer place.

‘‘We are sure that the bad guys will not hand over their weapons but they are not our targets in this amnesty.

‘‘They are our targets for special operations we are performing even during the weapons amnesty.’’

President Rugova, an ethnic Albanian, said it was the last chance for Kosovans to hand over their weapons.

He said: ‘‘This is the last chance for the common people to get rid of weapons they still have in their homes.’’

British troops were used to publicise and carry out the arms amnesty, which runs from March 15 to April 15.

Methods used included sending a bagpiper from the Queen’s Royal Hussars around villages to attract attention before handing out leaflets about the amnesty.

British troops were also used in the forced collection of weapons through house and vehicle searches.