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Nato troops close Kosovo border Nato troops close Kosovo border
(about 4 hours later)
Nato troops have sealed the northern borders of Kosovo after Serbs angry at its weekend declaration of independence ransacked two crossings.Nato troops have sealed the northern borders of Kosovo after Serbs angry at its weekend declaration of independence ransacked two crossings.
Hundreds of protesters torched customs and police posts at Jarinje and Banja, manned by UN and Kosovo police.Hundreds of protesters torched customs and police posts at Jarinje and Banja, manned by UN and Kosovo police.
Closing the borders will infuriate both Kosovo Serbs and Serbia's government, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Kosovo.Closing the borders will infuriate both Kosovo Serbs and Serbia's government, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Kosovo.
The move cuts Kosovo's mainly Serb north off from Serbia, the country to which they insist they still belong.The move cuts Kosovo's mainly Serb north off from Serbia, the country to which they insist they still belong.
See a map of Kosovo's ethnic breakdown See a map of Kosovo's ethnic breakdown
Nato said it was shutting the crossings, initially for a 24-hour period.Nato said it was shutting the crossings, initially for a 24-hour period.
Bulldozers and explosivesBulldozers and explosives
The protesters arrived in convoys of cars and buses in what our correspondent says was clearly a carefully planned and coordinated action.The protesters arrived in convoys of cars and buses in what our correspondent says was clearly a carefully planned and coordinated action.
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 Full text: Kosovo declarationIn pictures: CelebrationsAnger mounts in MitrovicaKOSOVO 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 Full text: Kosovo declarationIn pictures: CelebrationsAnger mounts in Mitrovica
Kosovo police and UN customs officials were forced to withdraw to a nearby tunnel as the crowds used bulldozers and explosives to demolish the border posts, according to witnesses.Kosovo police and UN customs officials were forced to withdraw to a nearby tunnel as the crowds used bulldozers and explosives to demolish the border posts, according to witnesses.
Nato-led peacekeepers from K-For were called in and US soldiers blocked the main road crossing with Serbia, while Estonian and French troops sealed the crossing to Montenegro.Nato-led peacekeepers from K-For were called in and US soldiers blocked the main road crossing with Serbia, while Estonian and French troops sealed the crossing to Montenegro.
Serbia's minister for Kosovo, Slobodan Samardzic, said his government intended to take control of the customs posts to establish what he called the fully authority of Serbian statehood.
'Second Kosovo'
The attacks on the crossings and the Nato response put the international community on a collision course with both Kosovo Serbs and the Serbian government, our correspondent says.
Kosovo's declaration drew protests in Belgrade and parts of Kosovo
He says that what is emerging on the ground is a second Kosovo.
Prevented by Nato from partitioning the territory, he adds that the Kosovo Serbs are making life increasingly difficult for UN staff in the north-western areas where Serbs are in the majority.
A preparatory team from the European Union, as well as a number of UN personnel, have withdrawn from the area on safety grounds.
In Pristina, Kosovan Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said an isolated incident would not be allowed to diminish the glory of Kosovan independence.In Pristina, Kosovan Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said an isolated incident would not be allowed to diminish the glory of Kosovan independence.
Meanwhile, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic made an impassioned speech saying that Kosovo would never be a sovereign nation and would remain part of Serbia forever.Meanwhile, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic made an impassioned speech saying that Kosovo would never be a sovereign nation and would remain part of Serbia forever.
"For us, Kosovo is the crucible of our identity, it is the essential link between our past and our future," he told the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Vienna, Austria. "For us, Kosovo is the crucible of our identity, it is the essential link between our past and our future," he told the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Vienna on Tuesday.
'Dangerous consequences''Dangerous consequences'
Earlier in the day, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, became the first international statesman to visit Kosovo since its independence declaration. Earlier in the day, the EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, became the first international statesman to visit Kosovo since its independence declaration.
STANCE ON RECOGNITION For: Germany, Italy, France, UK, Austria, US, Turkey, Albania, Afghanistan Against: Russia, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus Send us your comments
The US, Britain, France, Germany and Italy have all recognised the new state, but others have not.The US, Britain, France, Germany and Italy have all recognised the new state, but others have not.
Kosovo's declaration drew protests in Belgrade and parts of Kosovo On Tuesday, Russia said the declaration of independence endangered international stability.
Russia has warned that the declaration of independence endangers international stability, while China has expressed its deep concern. The warning was made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in a telephone conversation with his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice.
"We underlined the dangerous consequences of such a step, which threatens the destruction of world order and international stability which have developed over decades," the foreign ministry in Moscow said in a statement, following talks between Mr Lavrov and Ms Rice.
China has also expressed its deep concern, urging Pristina to reopen dialogue with Belgrade.
The UN Security Council is divided over how to respond to Kosovo's move, and it has failed to agree on any action.The UN Security Council is divided over how to respond to Kosovo's move, and it has failed to agree on any action.
Earlier on Tuesday, Russia said its foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, had warned US counterpart Condoleezza Rice in a telephone conversation that it would lead to trouble.
"We underlined the dangerous consequences of such a step, which threatens the destruction of world order and international stability which have developed over decades," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement, following talks between Mr Lavrov and Ms Rice.
Ambassadors recalledAmbassadors recalled
The Russian warning came just hours after US President George W Bush said the US would soon establish full diplomatic relations with Kosovo.The Russian warning came just hours after US President George W Bush said the US would soon establish full diplomatic relations with Kosovo.
In a letter to Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu, Mr Bush said he supported "your embrace of multi-ethnicity as a principle of good governance".In a letter to Kosovo's President Fatmir Sejdiu, Mr Bush said he supported "your embrace of multi-ethnicity as a principle of good governance".
STANCE ON RECOGNITION For: Germany, Italy, France, UK, Austria, US, Turkey, Albania, Afghanistan Against: Russia, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus Send us your comments
On Monday, the Serbian parliament passed a resolution condemning Kosovo's declaration of independence.On Monday, the Serbian parliament passed a resolution condemning Kosovo's declaration of independence.
The resolution also formally annulled the acts of the government in Pristina, saying Belgrade's sovereignty over Kosovo was guaranteed by the UN and international law.The resolution also formally annulled the acts of the government in Pristina, saying Belgrade's sovereignty over Kosovo was guaranteed by the UN and international law.
In a separate move, Serbia recalled its ambassadors to the US, France and Turkey because those countries had recognised Kosovo's independence. In a separate move, Serbia has recalled its ambassadors to the US, France and Turkey because those countries had recognised Kosovo's independence.
At a meeting in Brussels, the EU set aside differences over the recognition of Kosovo, by stressing that it was not a precedent for separatists elsewhere. EU member states set aside differences over the recognition of Kosovo earlier this week by stressing that it was not a precedent for separatists elsewhere.
Spain and several other member states have withheld recognition because of concerns about separatist movements within their own borders.Spain and several other member states have withheld recognition because of concerns about separatist movements within their own borders.
Serbian security forces were driven out of Kosovo in 1999 after a Nato bombing campaign aimed at halting the violent repression of ethnic Albanian separatists.Serbian security forces were driven out of Kosovo in 1999 after a Nato bombing campaign aimed at halting the violent repression of ethnic Albanian separatists.
The province has been under UN administration and Nato protection since then.The province has been under UN administration and Nato protection since then.
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