Kosovo celebrates 20th armed resistance anniversary

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

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PREKAZ, Kosovo (AP) - Hundreds of Kosovo ethnic Albanians have gathered in a western town to celebrate the Night of Fires, the launch of the armed resistance to late Serbian Slobodan Milosevic's regime 20 years ago.

People holding lit torches assembled Wednesday evening in Prekaz, 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of the capital, Pristina, where Adem Jashari, a national hero, and his 52 family members were killed by Serb army and paramilitary forces.

Kosovo's 1998-1999 armed resistance ended after a 78-day airstrike campaign from NATO against Serbia to stop a bloody crackdown against ethnic Albanians.

Kosovo Albanians participate in a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanians participate in a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Milosevic's brutal crackdown on Kosovo's separatist ethnic Albanians killed around 10,000 people.

In 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia, recognized by 117 countries but not by Belgrade.

Kosovo Albanians participate in a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanians participate in a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

A Kosovo Albanian man in national costume holds a torch during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

A Kosovo Albanian man in national costume holds a torch during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanians participate in a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanians participate in a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

A Kosovo Albanian woman in national costume holds a torch during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

A Kosovo Albanian woman in national costume holds a torch during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanians visit the compound of Jashari family houses damaged in 1998/99 Kosovo war during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanians visit the compound of Jashari family houses damaged in 1998/99 Kosovo war during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanians visit the compound of Jashari family houses damaged in 1998/99 Kosovo war during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanians visit the compound of Jashari family houses damaged in 1998/99 Kosovo war during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanians visit the compound of Jashari family houses damaged in 1998/99 Kosovo war during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanians visit the compound of Jashari family houses damaged in 1998/99 Kosovo war during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanian children in national costumes stand in front of the statue of Adem Jashari during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanian children in national costumes stand in front of the statue of Adem Jashari during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanians visit the compound of Jashari family houses damaged in 1998/99 Kosovo war during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanians visit the compound of Jashari family houses damaged in 1998/99 Kosovo war during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanians carry flaming torches as they visit the compound of Jashari family houses damaged in 1998/99 Kosovo war during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)

Kosovo Albanians carry flaming torches as they visit the compound of Jashari family houses damaged in 1998/99 Kosovo war during a bonfire ceremony "Night of the Fires" in the village of Prekaz, Kosovo on Wednesday, March 7, 2017. Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander Adem Jashari was killed along with 45 members of his family by Serb forces during the Kosovo war in the village of Prekaz in 1998. Every year hundreds of people gather to commemorate the event with a bonfire ceremony in the village. (AP Photo/Visar Kryeziu)