Kosovo

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP) - Kosovo declared itself a nation on Sunday, mounting a historic bid to become an "independent and democratic state" backed by the U.S. and key European allies but bitterly contested by Serbia and Russia.

"Kosovo is a republic - an independent, democratic and sovereign state," parliament speaker Jakup Krasniqi said as the chamber burst into applause. Krasniqi, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and President Fatmir Sejdiu signed the declaration, which was scripted on parchment.

Across the capital, Pristina, revelers danced in the streets, fired guns into the air and waved red and black Albanian flags in jubilation at the birth of the world's newest country.

Serbian President Boris Tadic immediately rejected the independence bid, saying his country will never accept Kosovo's "unilateral and illegal" declaration.

My Way News
A move that has been expected for quite awhile and has finally come to pass. No surprises in taht the U.S. and Europe are in favor and Russia and Serbia area against. Unless the Russian army decides to take a hand in it, expect it to come to pass and be 'approved' by the U.N.

Wales should be next (but won't be).

Maps: Kosovo (from the BBC) and Wales (from Coalcreekaml)

tag: Kosovo, independence, Serbia, Wales, Verlin Martin, Lord Nazh