Serbian President Tadic in Warning to Kosovo: Units on Serb Border an "Open Threat of War"

Plans by the government of Kosovo to deploy special police units to the northern -- mostly Serbian -- part of the country amount to an "open threat of war" for Belgrade, Serbian President Boris Tadic said today (July 10, 2010).

Tadic said, "These war-mongering statements and other provocations are a threat to a fragile peace and stability in Northern Kosovo," according to the Earth Times website.

He added that the government in Pristina -- the capital of Kosovo -- will be responsible for the "possible catastrophic consequences of this threat."

Kosovo -- primarily a Muslim former province in Serbia -- illegally seceded and declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia -- comprised mainly of Eastern Orthodox worshipers -- has asked the International Court of Justice to decide on the legality of Kosovo's independence. The court is expected to reach a decision on Kosovo's status within the next three months.