Charges filed against Kosovan leaders

SERBIA:Serbia has filed criminal charges against Kosovo's leaders in retaliation for their declaration of independence from Belgrade, and vowed to work with Russia to prevent the fledgling state joining international organisations such as the United Nations.

The announcements came as thousands of protesters rallied peacefully in Belgrade against the declaration, which sparked running battles in the Serb capital on Sunday night between riot police and mobs who hurled missiles at western embassies. Dozens of people were hurt in the clashes, during which police fired tear gas and rubber bullets.

Serbia's interior ministry charged Kosovo's president Fatmir Sejdiu, prime minister Hashim Thaci and parliamentary speaker Jakup Krasniqi with committing "a serious criminal act against the constitutional order and security of Serbia" by declaring independence.

There was no immediate response from Kosovo's leaders to the allegation, which was part of a furious response from Belgrade and Moscow to the long-anticipated announcement from Pristina, the capital of the new country of two million people.

Russia vowed never to recognise Kosovo's unilateral declaration of sovereignty, which it said broke international law, would embolden separatist groups everywhere, and could spark a new round of conflict in the Balkans.

"The so-called Kosovo state will never be a member of the United Nations," pledged Serb foreign minister Vuk Jeremic, saying Belgrade would rely on Russia to block such a bid from Pristina with its UN Security Council veto.

He also vowed that Serbia would prevent Kosovo joining democracy and rights groups such as the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the Council of Europe, in which every member state must agree to the accession of newcomers.

As Britain, France, Germany and Italy announced their intention last night to recognise an independent Kosovo, the diplomatic community waited to see if Belgrade would fulfil its threat to downgrade ties with states that made such a move.

Serb trade minister Predrag Bubalo allayed fears that his country would launch an economic blockade or cut power supplies to Kosovo, saying Belgrade wanted to prevent suffering among its 100,000 or so Serbs.

"We cannot punish these people because of the other part of the population," he said.

A 5,000-strong protest against Kosovo's independence ended peacefully in Belgrade yesterday, while 3,000 people marched through Banja Luka, the capital of Bosnia's Serb-run region.