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

Vladimir Putin issued a sharp warning to the West about the consequences of recognising Kosovo’s independence, saying the decision would “come back to knock them on the head”.

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.

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.

SERBS set off sporadic explosions and torched checkpoints between Serbia and Kosovo yesterday to protest Kosovo’s declaration of independence and international recognition of the state.

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.

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.

Kosovo’s leaders sent out 192 letters to the world’s nations today asking for formal recognition of its independence.

Kosovo took another step towards announcing its independence today by creating a government office to handle the concerns of Serb minorities.

Negotiations over a UN plan for Kosovo were postponed today for one week, after Serbia requested more time to allow for a parliament to be formed in Belgrade, a UN mediator said.

A UN envoy was briefing the US, Russia and key European allies in Austria today on his proposal for the future of Serbia’s independence-minded province of Kosovo.

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

TWO American police officers and a Jordanian were killed in a shootout in Kosovo, apparently during a row over Iraq, in what the UN yesterday called a reckless attack on its personnel in the Serbian province.

At least seven international police officers have been wounded in a shoot-out today near a prison in northern Kosovo, a UN spokesman and a Serb doctor said.

NATO-LED peacekeepers in riot gear erected barricades, set up checkpoints and parked armoured personnel carriers at strategic locations yesterday to prevent unrest at the funerals for two ethnic Albanian boys whose drowning sparked violence in Kosovo.

Nato-led peacekeepers in full riot gear erected barricades, set up checkpoints and parked armoured personnel carriers at strategic locations today to prevent unrest at the funerals for two ethnic Albanian boys whose drowning sparked violence in Kosovo.

Nato-led peacekeepers strengthened patrols to prevent unrest at the funerals of two ethnic Albanian boys whose drowning deaths sparked major violence in Kosovo.

Nato-led forces moved to separate ethnic Albanians and Serbs today to prevent a resurgence of attacks that killed 28 and wounded 600 in the worst spasm of violence in five years.

Nato deployed more peacekeeping troops to regain control of Kosovo today and warned it was prepared to take harsh measures against rioters as ethnic violence raged into a third day.

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 sent US and Italian reinforcements to Kosovo yesterday after fighting between Serbs and ethnic Albanians killed 22 people and wounded hundreds, the worst violence since the war five years ago.

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.

At least six people were killed and dozens of others were wounded today, as Serbs and ethnic Albanians clashed in Kosovo following a drowning tragedy.

Angelina Jolie had a holiday in hell after visiting Kosovo over Christmas.

A moderate ethnic Albanian leader declared that his party swept to power in Kosovo’s elections, predicting that official results released today would give the Democratic League of Kosovo control of the Yugoslav province’s 120-seat assembly.

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.