Prizren - Turkish peacekeepers and immigrants in south-western Kosovo have watched, frustrated and powerless, as the death toll in the earthquake in their homeland rose to over 12,000 yesterday.
Reports of the massive tremor came as "a terrible shock" to the 1,000-strong Turkish peacekeeping contingent based in Dragash, 40 km from Prizren, a military spokesman said.
Some 200 troops who have lost relatives in the catastrophe will be relieved of their duties and allowed to go home, according to Turkish military sources.