A breakout attempt by 14 inmates at Kosovo's biggest prison was set back by UN police after an exchange of fire, officials said on Tuesday.

The inmates' suspected accomplices opened fire late Monday from outside western Kosovo's Dubrava prison, attempting to help the inmates who were out of their cells in the prison yard to escape.

But UN special police thwarted this attempt after an exchange of fire, police said.

Three prison staff were injured in the incident, but the shooting caused no casualty, according to the police.

Kosovo, a province of Serbia, has been under UN administration since a NATO-led bombing campaign in 1999 forced the withdrawal of Serbian troops from the province.

Source: Xinhua