Kosovo's parliament has unanimously endorsed a declaration of independence from Serbia, in an historic session.

A special session of Kosovo's parliament has voted to declare independence from Serbia, with thousands of ethnic Albanians jamming the streets of Pristina, the main city, for the historic moment.

After deputies voted on Sunday for a formal proclamation, Hashim Thaci, the prime minister, said "from today onwards, Kosovo is proud, independent and free".

He said: "We, the leaders of our people, democratically elected, through this declaration proclaim Kosovo an independent and sovereign state.

"Our hopes have never been higher. Dreams are infinite, our challenges loom large, but nothing can deter us from moving forward to the greatness that history has reserved for us."

Thaci said Kosovo will be "a democratic, secular and multi-ethnic state", and "will never be ruled by Belgrade again". He, however, vowed to maintain friendly relations with Serbia.

All 109 deputies present at the session voted in favour of independence with a show of hands.

Eleven deputies from ethnic minorities, including Serbs, were absent.

Scenes of celebration

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

Ninety per cent of Kosovo's two million people are ethnic Albanian - mostly nominal Muslims who are secular - and they see no reason to stay joined to the rest of Christian Orthodox Serbia.

"Kosovo is a republic - an independent, democratic and sovereign state," Jakup Krasniqi, the parliament speaker, said as the chamber rang with applause.

Krasniqi, Thaci and Fatmir Sejdiu, the president, signed the declaration, which was scripted on parchment. Later, the flag of independent Kosovo was unveiled in parliament.

It depicts a yellow outline of the nation on a dark blue field, accompanied by six stars.

Thaci has signed 192 separate letters to countries around the world - including Serbia - asking them to recognise Kosovo as a state.

He also promised to abide by a plan set out by Martti Ahtisaari, a former UN envoy that came up with a plan which proposed a transition period focusing on Serb rights, and eventually leading to independence.

Pristina expects countries, including the US and several EU members, to announce their recognition on Monday.

Source: Al-Jazeera

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