Nato troops reopened two demolished border checkpoints between Serbia and northern Kosovo today as thousands of Serbs continued their protests against the country’s 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.

Serbia’s leadership today demanded an urgent investigation into a bomb attack that left nine people injured in northern Kosovo.

In a scathing report, a leading human rights organisation blamed Nato and UN police today for failing “catastrophically” to protect minorities in Kosovo during ethnic violence earlier this year.

Nato-led peacekeepers deployed more troops to regain control of Kosovo today, promising to take harsh measures against rioters – even if it means some of them may be shot.

Nato peacekeepers and UN police regrouped throughout Kosovo today to put down rioting and violence that left eight dead and hundreds injured in one of the bloodiest days since the end of the Kosovo war in 1999.

Gunmen sprayed bullets on teenagers swimming in a Kosovo river today, killing at least one and injuring five others.

At least one person has died when a car bomb rocked the centre the Kosovo capital.