Prayers and protests mark Kosovo independence
Kosovo marked its first full week of independence with prayers and protests today as outraged Serbs geared up for demonstrations across Europe.
Serbs refusing to let Kosovo secede from Serbia without a fight planned to stage their seventh straight day of protests in the ethnically divided northern town of Kosovska Mitrovica, where UN police and Nato-led peacekeepers maintained a presence aimed at discouraging any violence.
Serbs also planned anti-independence rallies in Geneva, Vienna and other European capitals. Saturday's protests were peaceful - a stark difference from the rioting that broke out Thursday in Belgrade, where protesters stormed the US Embassy and set part of it ablaze.
In Kosovo's ethnic Albanian-dominated capital, Pristina, the curious gathered around a sculpture spelling out "NEWBORN" in giant yellow letters and covered in graffiti scribbled by revellers after lawmakers proclaimed independence a week ago.
"We love you Kosovo!" someone signed in English.
"We celebrate this important day with historic responsibility and a very satisfying result bringing huge recognition from the entire world for an independent Kosovo," Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said today while visiting the grave of the late pacifist President Ibrahim Rugova, revered among ethnic Albanians for his drive for statehood.
Mr Thaci, a former guerrilla leader of the now-disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army in the 1998-99 war with Serbian troops, which claimed 10,000 lives, reached out anew to Kosovo's Serbian minority.
"I will be beside them to help them to integrate in Kosovo's democratic institutions, to integrate in the democratic society of our country," Mr Thaci said.
"They, as citizens of this country, should be comfortable with this new reality since Kosovo is a homeland to all its citizens and all the rights of minorities will be respected."
In Belgrade, fury over Kosovo's February 17 declaration of independence showed no signs of abating, however.
Branislav Ristivojevic, an adviser to nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, said the only way to ease tensions in the Balkans would be for the US, "which has produced the crisis", to convene an emergency session of the UN Security Council and "reaffirm" Kosovo as part of Serbian territory.
Serbs view Kosovo as the heart of their homeland and their Serbian Orthodox faith, and have refused to let it go despite formal recognition from the US, key European nations and other countries worldwide.
Russia supports Serbia's resistance and has declared Kosovo's independence illegal.
In the Serb enclave of Gracanica just outside Pristina, locals said they felt abandoned by the Serbian government and were fearful of reprisal attacks by the ethnic Albanians who surround their village.
"We are afraid. Every night that we lie in bed we don't know in the morning what is going to happen," said Jovanka Petrovic, among Sunday worshippers at Gracanica's sole Orthodox church. "We are afraid to go to sleep. We are not free."
"There is no more Serbia. We have lost everything," added Ana Ivanovic, another worshipper.
Ethnic Albanians exulted in their independence however and held out hope that the unrest and uncertainty would subside.
"People are still celebrating," said Artan Dedushaj. "It's only been a week and I think it's too early to see any changes in our new country. People keep celebrating every night, but this is something that all Albanians have waited centuries for - and changes will come soon."
Later, the US Ambassador to Serbia warned the country's leaders to prevent future violence against diplomatic missions.
Ambassador Cameron Munter says he is angry about riots that damaged the US Embassy last week.
He said in an interview today that he expects the government to make certain it does not happen again.
