Kosovo proclaims independence

Kosovo's parliament has unanimously declared independence from Serbia. Prime Minister Hashim Thaci promised a democracy that respected the rights of all ethnic communities.

At the UN Security Council Russia said there was no basis for changing resolution 1244 (1999), which handed Kosovo to the UN.

In the ethnic Serbian area in Mitrovica, two hand grenades were thrown. One exploded at a UN court building while the other failed to go off outside offices expected to house the new EU mission. In Belgrade, demonstrators threw stones and broke windows at the US embassy.