EU suspends security staff for Kosovo mission chief

(PRISTINA) - The European Union mission in Kosovo suspended one member of the team securing its head delegate and transferred a number of others over security concerns, it said Sunday.

The mission, known as EULEX, said the measure was "protective" but did not give details, including how many people were removed from former French general Xavier Bout de Marnhac's close protection team.

"An international staff member working for the EULEX rule of law mission has been suspended from his duties, and a number of other staff members temporarily transferred to other duties within the mission, because of security concerns," it said in a media statement.

"All the individuals worked as part of the close protection team to the head of the mission, with responsibility for his physical security."

It said "the suspension and transfers are taken as a protective measure because the team's ability to carry out their duties has been compromised."

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and EU launched at the end of the same year its biggest civilian mission ever to oversee the judiciary, police and customs services in the newly declared country.

EULEX, with about 3,000 staff, has the authority to take over difficult cases, in particular war crimes trials, when the local judiciary is unable to handle them because of their sensitivity.