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Kosovo begins independence move Kosovo begins independence move
(30 minutes later)
Kosovo's parliament has been called for an emergency session to formally declare independence from Serbia. Kosovo's parliament has been called into emergency session to formally declare independence from Serbia.
"We have to take decisions on the future of our nation," Prime Minister Hashim Thaci told reporters. MPs are expected to meet at about 1400 GMT."We have to take decisions on the future of our nation," Prime Minister Hashim Thaci told reporters. MPs are expected to meet at about 1400 GMT.
The US and a number of EU countries support the move, which is opposed by Serbia and its ally Russia.The US and a number of EU countries support the move, which is opposed by Serbia and its ally Russia.
President George W Bush said he was in favour of a UN plan that envisages a supervised independence for Kosovo.President George W Bush said he was in favour of a UN plan that envisages a supervised independence for Kosovo.
See a map of Kosovo's ethnic breakdown See a map of Kosovo's ethnic breakdown
Correspondents say the potential for trouble between Kosovo's Serbs and ethnic Albanians is enormous.Correspondents say the potential for trouble between Kosovo's Serbs and ethnic Albanians is enormous.
Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica is to make a televised address at 1500 GMT.
Flashpoint townFlashpoint town
"We are on the brink of a very crucial moment - an important decision that will make us one of the free nations of the world," Mr Thaci told the media as he read the letter sent to the speaker of parliament, Jakup Krasniqi, to request the special session."We are on the brink of a very crucial moment - an important decision that will make us one of the free nations of the world," Mr Thaci told the media as he read the letter sent to the speaker of parliament, Jakup Krasniqi, to request the special session.
He said the MPs would approve the declaration of independence and would vote on the state symbols.He said the MPs would approve the declaration of independence and would vote on the state symbols.
As the expected day for the proclamation of independence drew closer, scores of drivers took to the streets of Pristina on Saturday, honking their horns. Top leaders are due to go to a sports hall later where the Kosovo Philharmonic Orchestra is expected to play Beethoven's "Ode to Joy".
Strains of Albanian music blared from car stereos as distinctive red and black Albanian flags fluttered in the winter breeze. KOSOVO PROFILE Population about two millionMajority ethnic Albanian; 10% SerbUnder UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 19992,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independenceNato to stay to provide security class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7249162.stm">In pictures: Celebrations class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7247826.stm">Kosovo youths eye future class="" href="/1/hi/puffbox/promo/regular/7247776.inc">Serb and Albanian views
Posters have been stuck on the walls of buildings expressing thanks to the US, Britain and the EU for supporting Kosovan independence. Leaders were reportedly also due to sign their names on giant iron letters spelling out the word "newborn" which was to be displayed in Pristina.
KOSOVO PROFILE Population about two millionMajority ethnic Albanian; 10% SerbUnder UN control since Nato drove out Serb forces in 19992,000-strong EU staff to take over from UN after independenceNato to stay to provide security class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7244538.stm">Legal furore over recognition class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7247826.stm">Kosovo youths eye future class="" href="/1/hi/puffbox/promo/regular/7247776.inc">Serb and Albanian views In Belgrade, meanwhile, about 1,000 Serb demonstrators protested against the loss of territory they consider their heartland. Fireworks and street celebrations will follow.
In the flashpoint town of Mitrovica, in northern Kosovo, Nato peacekeeping troops have laid concrete and razor-wire barriers to separate Serbs from Albanians. "This will be a joyful day," Besnik Berisha, a Pristina resident, told the Associated Press news agency.
Lieutenant-General Xavier de Marnhac, the French commander of the Nato peacekeepers, said his troops would react swiftly to any provocation from the Albanian or Serbian side of the divided town. "The town looks great, and the party should start."
The BBC's Nick Thorpe in Mitrovica says local and UN police, as well as the Nato troops, are maintaining a high profile to reassure all the citizens of Kosovo that they have nothing to fear. Some ethnic Albanians, who make up the majority of Kosovo's population, have been laying flowers on the graves of family members killed by Serbian security forces during years of conflict and division.
The BBC's Nick Thorpe in the flashpoint town of Mitrovica says local and UN police, as well as the Nato troops, are maintaining a high profile to reassure all the citizens of Kosovo that they have nothing to fear.
Sensitive areasSensitive areas
On Saturday, the EU approved sending a police and justice mission to Kosovo.On Saturday, the EU approved sending a police and justice mission to Kosovo.
UK soldiers on standby The 2,000-strong mission, known as Eulex, will begin deploying from next week and is expected to take over from the United Nations by early June. UK soldiers on standby class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7244538.stm">Legal furore over recognition
The 2,000-strong mission, known as Eulex, will begin deploying from next week and is expected to take over from the United Nations by early June.
It is tasked with helping to prevent human rights abuses and ensure that Kosovo's fragile institutions are free from political interference.It is tasked with helping to prevent human rights abuses and ensure that Kosovo's fragile institutions are free from political interference.
Serbia and Russia fiercely oppose Kosovo's independence and insist the presence of the EU there will be illegal.Serbia and Russia fiercely oppose Kosovo's independence and insist the presence of the EU there will be illegal.
Serbia has threatened to use diplomatic and economic measures against Kosovo, though it has ruled out using force.Serbia has threatened to use diplomatic and economic measures against Kosovo, though it has ruled out using force.
Russia's foreign ministry has indicated that Western recognition of an independent Kosovo could have implications for the Georgian breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. HAVE YOUR SAYUnfortunately today Kosovo and Serbia are to become two dispensable chess-pieces of EU/NATO and RussiaMat, Ljubljana, SloveniaSend us your commentsThe UN has administered Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign in 1999 drove out Serb forces.Russia's foreign ministry has indicated that Western recognition of an independent Kosovo could have implications for the Georgian breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. HAVE YOUR SAYUnfortunately today Kosovo and Serbia are to become two dispensable chess-pieces of EU/NATO and RussiaMat, Ljubljana, SloveniaSend us your commentsThe UN has administered Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign in 1999 drove out Serb forces.
A UN plan for Kosovo drawn up by special envoy Martti Ahtisaari, an experienced Finnish diplomat and politician, would give Kosovo independence - but with limits, and under international supervision.A UN plan for Kosovo drawn up by special envoy Martti Ahtisaari, an experienced Finnish diplomat and politician, would give Kosovo independence - but with limits, and under international supervision.
It would open the way for Kosovo to join the UN and have its own flag and national anthem - but it would prevent Kosovo from amalgamating with Albania, or having its Serb areas split off and be part of Serbia.It would open the way for Kosovo to join the UN and have its own flag and national anthem - but it would prevent Kosovo from amalgamating with Albania, or having its Serb areas split off and be part of Serbia.
Faced with a veto threat from Russia, the UN Security Council has failed to endorse the blueprint.Faced with a veto threat from Russia, the UN Security Council has failed to endorse the blueprint.
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