Heavy rainfall floods parts of Serbia and Kosovo

Heavy rainfall this week across the Balkans has caused rivers to rise dangerously in Serbia, Bosnia and Montenegro, flooding some areas and threatening flood defenses elsewhere.

Floods were also reported in Kosovo and Albania, where high waters soaked agricultural land, blocked roads and caused temporary power outages.In northern Kosovo, authorities said parts of the town of Mitrovica have been flooded, forcing people to evacuate their homes.

Speaking to AP in Novi Pazar Serbian Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic partially laid the blame for flooding on "those who build illegal bridges" and "those who throw their rubbish into rivers all across Serbia".The rain followed weeks of unseasonably warm weather. Temperatures are expected to drop at the weekend, with rain being succeeded by snow.An emergency situation was declared in four more areas in southwest and southern Serbia.