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UK soldiers on standby for Kosovo | UK soldiers on standby for Kosovo |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Britain has put 600 troops on standby to deploy to Kosovo at short notice in case of violence following its planned breakaway from Serbia. | Britain has put 600 troops on standby to deploy to Kosovo at short notice in case of violence following its planned breakaway from Serbia. |
The quick reaction force, formed by members of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, would be sent in an emergency. | The quick reaction force, formed by members of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, would be sent in an emergency. |
The MoD says the force is part of the UK's commitment to Nato-led peacekeeping in the Balkans. | The MoD says the force is part of the UK's commitment to Nato-led peacekeeping in the Balkans. |
Currently, 200 British forces are serving in Kosovo, out of a total of 15,000 troops in the breakaway region. | Currently, 200 British forces are serving in Kosovo, out of a total of 15,000 troops in the breakaway region. |
Kosovo has been under United Nations administration since 1999 and is poised to declare independence from Serbia on Sunday following a protracted and bloody conflict between ethnic Serbs and Albanians stretching back centuries. | Kosovo has been under United Nations administration since 1999 and is poised to declare independence from Serbia on Sunday following a protracted and bloody conflict between ethnic Serbs and Albanians stretching back centuries. |
On rotation | On rotation |
Should violence erupt again in the near future, the responsibility for providing back-up will fall to the UK. | Should violence erupt again in the near future, the responsibility for providing back-up will fall to the UK. |
Nato operates a rotating response force, with one member state setting aside troops every six months. The UK took over this responsibility on 1 January. | Nato operates a rotating response force, with one member state setting aside troops every six months. The UK took over this responsibility on 1 January. |
A spokesman at the MoD said the troops had been earmarked "in case Nato requires a force with extra flexibility to deter or combat outbreaks of violence." | A spokesman at the MoD said the troops had been earmarked "in case Nato requires a force with extra flexibility to deter or combat outbreaks of violence." |
The soldiers will be backed up by equipment including troop carriers and other armoured vehicles. | The soldiers will be backed up by equipment including troop carriers and other armoured vehicles. |
The Welsh Guards battalion is based at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. | The Welsh Guards battalion is based at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. |
Recent overseas tours have included Bosnia and Northern Ireland. | Recent overseas tours have included Bosnia and Northern Ireland. |
On Friday, the European Union approved the launch of a police and justice mission to help enforce the rule of law in Kosovo. | |
This is in case Nato requires a force with extra flexibility to deter or combat outbreaks of violence MoD spokesman | |
Two thousand police officers, judges and prosecutors will start deploying to Kosovo from next week in one of the biggest deployments of its kind by the EU. | |
Britain is sending around 60 police officers and judicial experts, although Germany and Italy are the biggest contributors. | |
All EU members except for Malta will take part, as well as five non-EU countries: Croatia, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States. |
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