European Union police in northern Kosovo fired tear gas Tuesday to disperse about 100 Serbs protesting the reconstruction of Albanian houses in the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica. Seven people were injured as protesters on both sides threw stones while police tried to separate them, said police spokesman Sami Mehmeti. He added that shortly after the clash an explosion and gunfire were heard in the area. The clash between Serbs and ethnic Albanians is the latest in a series of similar incidents in the town. Serbs condition the return of ethnic Albanians to Serb areas of Kosovo on the return of Serbs to the Albanian-run south. Kosovo's government does not have control over the country's north where the beleaguered Serb minority opposes Kosovo's independence, which has so far been recognized by 62 countries. Recently, tensions between ethnic Albanians and the EU have also been on the rise due to an agreement that EU mission officials in Kosovo want to sign with Serbia on exchange of information. Highlighting the ethnic Albanian opposition to such a deal, activists from a group called Self-determination on Tuesday overturned some 24 vehicles of the EU mission -- known as EULEX -- in the capital Pristina, puncturing tires and smashing windows. Twenty activists were arrested. EULEX condemned the attack on its vehicles, saying in a statement that 'committing criminal damage does not further the interests or the arguments of any such protesters.' 