Kosovo declares independence

The following is from the Daily Telegraph, linked here:

"Serbia will never recognise the independence of Kosovo. Serbia has reacted and will react with all peaceful, diplomatic and legal means to annul this act committed by Kosovo's institutions," he said in a statement. "I appeal to all our citizens in Serbia and in Kosovo to be led by reason."

Russia also opposes Kosovan independence, saying the new state's split from Serbia would force it to reconsider its own position on territorial disputes.

Britain, already under pressure in Afghanistan and Iraq, is sending up to 1,000 extra troops to Kosovo to ensure that peace remains, a task made more diplomatically fraught because of strong opposition to the independence bid from Russia.