Minister for Defence Michael Smith is today beginning a three-day trip to the Balkans to visit troops on peacekeeping missions.

Weapons collected by British troops in Kosovo were melted down today as the authorities warned citizens it was their ‘‘last chance’’ to hand over arms.

Nato-led peacekeepers stepped up security and took extra precautions to prevent intimidation of voters taking part today in the first province-wide ballot since Nato and the United Nations took control over Kosovo.