Kosovo MPs proclaim independence
Kosovo's parliament has unanimously endorsed a declaration of independence from Serbia, in an historic session.
The declaration, read by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, said Kosovo would be a democratic country that respected the rights of all ethnic communities.
But Serbia's PM denounced the US for helping create a "false state" and protesters in Belgrade later pelted the US embassy with stones.
The US and a number of EU countries are expected to recognise Kosovo on Monday.
Before that, the UN Security Council is expected to convene on Sunday evening in an emergency meeting demanded by Serbia's ally, Russia.
Tens of thousands of people had thronged the streets of Kosovo's capital, Pristina, since the morning.
When news came of the declaration in parliament, the centre of the city erupted with fireworks, firecrackers and celebratory gunfire.
Hundreds of ethnic Albanians staged noisy celebrations in the Macedonian capital, Skopje, and in Brussels, outside the headquarters of Nato and the European Union.
The declaration was approved with a show of hands. No-one opposed it.
"We have waited for this day for a very long time," Mr Thaci told parliament before reading the text, paying tribute to those who had died on the road to independence.
From today, he said, Kosovo was "proud, independent and free".
"The independence of Kosovo marks the end of the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia," the prime minister said.
He said Kosovo would be built in accordance with the UN plan drawn up by former Finnish President, Martti Ahtisaari.
The whole article at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7249034.stm
Kosovo's parliament has unanimously endorsed a declaration of independence from Serbia, in an historic session.
The declaration, read by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, said Kosovo would be a democratic country that respected the rights of all ethnic communities.
But Serbia's PM denounced the US for helping create a "false state" and protesters in Belgrade later pelted the US embassy with stones.
The US and a number of EU countries are expected to recognise Kosovo on Monday.
Before that, the UN Security Council is expected to convene on Sunday evening in an emergency meeting demanded by Serbia's ally, Russia.
Tens of thousands of people had thronged the streets of Kosovo's capital, Pristina, since the morning.
When news came of the declaration in parliament, the centre of the city erupted with fireworks, firecrackers and celebratory gunfire.
Hundreds of ethnic Albanians staged noisy celebrations in the Macedonian capital, Skopje, and in Brussels, outside the headquarters of Nato and the European Union.
The declaration was approved with a show of hands. No-one opposed it.
"We have waited for this day for a very long time," Mr Thaci told parliament before reading the text, paying tribute to those who had died on the road to independence.
From today, he said, Kosovo was "proud, independent and free".
"The independence of Kosovo marks the end of the dissolution of the former Yugoslavia," the prime minister said.
He said Kosovo would be built in accordance with the UN plan drawn up by former Finnish President, Martti Ahtisaari.
The whole article at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7249034.stm
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