EU Warning: Kosovo Could Be Isolated

Foreign ministers from several EU countries have urged Kosovo Albanians not to declare unilateral independence following Saturday's elections.

Independence without foreign support could isolate Kosovo, they warned.A party led by a former Kosovo Albanian rebel is set to win the polls, which were boycotted by the Serb minority. Hashim Thaci's party seeks to declare independence from Serbia after 10 December - the UN deadline for ethnic Albanians and Serbs to reach a deal.

Kosovo is formally a part of Serbia but has been run by the United Nations since 1999 when Nato ejected Serbian forces from the province. Ethnic Albanians, who make up some 90% of Kosovo's population of two million people, have been pushing for the province's independence.

Members of the Serbian minority oppose the move. They heeded a call by Serbia's government to boycott the poll. The 27-member EU is divided on the issue of independence for Kosovo, while the US backs the move.