PRISTINA - Four NATO troops from the KFOR peackeeping force in Kosovo were injured after improvised explosive devices were thrown at their positions near a contested border crossing in predominantly-Serb north of the country, a NATO spokesman said on Tuesday. ?

"Four solders were injured in explosions of pipe bombs. Three have minor injuries, while the fourth (soldier) who has serious injuries will be evacuated," said Kai Gudenoge, a NATO spokesman in the capital Pristina.

At least six Kosovo Serbs were also seriously injured in a shootout between protesters and NATO peacekeepers at the Jarinje border crossing 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Pristina, local Serb authorities and health officials said.