Serbian President Boris Tadic on Monday asked for "an immediate cease of conflicts" between members of the NATO-led Kosovo force (KFOR) and Serbs in the northern Kosovo village of Jagnjenica, near the Serbia-Kosovo border.
"I call on officials of KFOR, EULEX and political representatives of Serbs to immediately calm the situation and secure full freedom of movements exclusively through dialogue and without violence. The lives of our citizens and members of international institutions must be preserved in every way," Tadic said in a statement.
The Serbian president warned that the escalation of conflicts brought into question "Serbia's vital interest" and reduced the possibility for reaching a compromise and a sustainable solution in Kosovo.
"International documents bind KFOR and EULEX to contribute to the calming of the situation with their operations. Serb political leaders must stop extremists who are bringing into question the personal safety of our citizens and international officials in Kosovo. Only peace, dialogue and solving problems are the way out of this and every other crisis situation," Tadic said.
Two German NATO soldiers were shot and wounded on Monday in clashes with demonstrators in Kosovo, the latest violence in a standoff with Serbs who reject the country's 2008 secession from Serbia.
Clashes broke out when NATO peacekeepers began removing roadblocks erected by Serbs in July after Kosovo's ethnic Albanian-dominated government tried to send border police to the mainly Serb north.
"Two KFOR soldiers were wounded by firearms used by demonstrators," said Frank Martin, a spokesman for NATO's 6,250-strong Kosovo Force (KFOR).
KFOR soldiers used tear gas and water cannons against Serb demonstrators, who in turn threw stones and sticks and fired from small-calibre guns.
KFOR spokesman Martin was quoted as saying that two KFOR soldiers had been wounded by gunfire, while Serbs denied having used firearms.
"We have used a small amount of rubber bullets, tear gas and pepper spray," Martin said.
