PRISTINA, Serbia: Seven inmates escaped from a high-security prison over the weekend in western Kosovo, and police backed by NATO helicopters launched a manhunt throughout the province, authorities said Monday.The convicts, on a scheduled walk in a yard at Dubrava prison late Saturday, were supported by an armed group who shot at guards and at least one of the inmates participated in the gunbattle, police spokesman Veton Elshani said. They were able to jump over a surrounding wall and fence.
Two senior prison officials and two prison guards were arrested on suspicion of involvement, Elshani said. No injuries were reported.
Police said they found six unused rocket launchers and shell casings from automatic rifles at the site of the gunbattle.
The inmates, some convicted of terrorism, murder and theft, were believed to still be in the province, but police have notified authorities in neighboring countries.
Kosovo has been run by the United Nations and NATO since 1999, when NATO launched an air war to stop the Serb government's onslaught on Albanian separatists.