Serbia may drop a £600m (€787.6m) international debt bill on Kosovo in revenge for its declaration of independence.

Diplomats said today the US Embassy in Belgrade has reopened after being targeted in anti-American riots.

Kosovo marked its first full week of independence with prayers and protests today as outraged Serbs geared up for demonstrations across Europe.

Russia's envoy to Nato warned the alliance today against overstepping its mandate in Kosovo and said Moscow might be forced to use "brute military force" to maintain respect on the world scene.

UN police guarding a key bridge in northern Kosovo were attacked with stones and bottles during a rally by 5,000 Serbs protesting Kosovo’s independence today.

UN police fired tear gas at 5,000 Serb demonstrators trying to cross a key bridge in the ethnically divided city of Kosovoska Mitrovica today.

Police belatedly stood guard outside the British, US and other Western embassies in Belgrade today after they were attacked overnight by rioters protesting at Kosovo’s independence.

America gave Serbia a blunt warning against inciting violence after an angry mob protesting at the independence declared by its former province of Kosovo stormed and set fire to the US Embassy in Belgrade.

Serb rioters set fire to an office inside the US embassy today as police clashed with protesters after an estimated 150,000 people demonstrated against Kosovo’s declaration of independence.

Serb demonstrators sacked the US embassy in Belgrade tonight at the end of a mass protest against Kosovo’s independence.

Kosovo’s president said today Nato’s promise to secure his new nation’s borders against Serbia was vital.

At least 150,000 Serbs gathered in central Belgrade today in a massive protest against Kosovo’s declaration of independence, raising fears of street violence.

Thousands of angry Serbs marched into Belgrade today protesting against Kosovo’s declaration of independence.

Nato troops closed roads between Serbia and northern Kosovo and armed UN police guarded wrecked border checkpoints today preparing for more protests by Serbs incensed by the country’s declaration of independence.

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government has approved recognition of Kosovo as an independent state, a German official said today.

Thousands of Serbs destroyed two border checkpoints in Kosovo today during protests over the country’s newly-declared independence.

Angry Serbs set off explosions in northern Kosovo today protesting at the newborn republic’s independence.

Serbia tonight recalled its ambassador to the US in response to the Bush administration’s recognition of Kosovo’s independence.

Thousands of Kosovo Serbs took to the streets in protest today over their ethnic Albanian leadership’s declaration of the province’s independence from Serbia.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern will attend a meeting of EU Foreign Minister today following Kosovo's declaration of independence.

Russia tried to block Kosovo's independence today during an emergency session of the United Nations Security Council, saying it is deeply concerned about the fate of Serbs in the province.

US President George Bush said today the US will work to prevent violent clashes following Kosovo’s declaration of independence. The State Department was reviewing the development with European allies as the province sought swift recognition from the West.

The Nato alliance called for restraint from all sides after Kosovo declared itself independent today, and said its 16,000 peacekeepers will continue to guarantee security in the region.

Russia denounced Kosovo’s independence declaration today and called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.

The move by Kosovo to become an “independent and democratic state” is backed by the US and key European allies but bitterly contested by Serbia and Russia.

The European Union’s 27 nations were divided today over whether to recognise Kosovo’s statehood after the province unilaterally declares independence from Serbia.

Ireland will recognise an independent Kosovo as the world’s newest country, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern declared today.

Kosovo’s prime minister today announced a special afternoon session of parliament where lawmakers planned to declare independence – a bold and historic bid for statehood in defiance of Serbia and Russia.