PRISTINA, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) resumed duties in northern Mitrovica on Wednesday, two days after fierce clashes with ethnic Serbs killed a Ukrainian policeman.

    "The UNMIK police commissioner ordered the return of international and local police to the northern part of the town," said Besim Hoti, spokesman of the Kosovo Police Service (KPS).

    UN police pulled out of the Serb-dominated part of Mitrovica after Monday's violence.

    Ukraine policeman Ihor Kynal, 25, died of injuries suffered in Monday's clashes.

    Ukraine Interior Minister Yuri Lutsenko was in Kosovo Wednesday, visiting more than 20 injured Ukrainian policemen.

    Around 70 Serbs were injured, of whom 15 seriously injured were hospitalized, while two persons who had received life-threatening injuries were transported to Kragujevac and Belgrade.

    The latest incidents raised tensions in and about Kosovo, fuelling discussions on its partition.

    The International Crisis Group said Tuesday the European Union and NATO would have to send a clear message to Serbia and Russia that they would not permit Kosovo to be divided.

    In Pristina, Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuqi said there is no real danger of partition.

    "The conflict period is over in Kosovo and the Balkans, it's the time of cooperation and European integration," said Kuqi.

    Meanwhile, three of Serbia's neighboring countries on Wednesday announced their intention to recognize Kosovo as an independent state.

    In a joint statement, Bulgaria, Croatia and Hungary said they have decided to recognize the Republic of Kosovo.

    The three countries say they "look forward to the continued development of their good-neighborly relations with Serbia and to the strengthening of their traditional ties with its people."

    By March 19, a total of 31 countries have formally recognized Kosovo's independence, including the United States, Canada, Japan, and 17 EU members.

    Serbia and its ally Russia strongly oppose Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence. Three EU members Romania, Slovakia and Cyprus have made clear objection to Kosovo's independence.