Kosovo prepares for historic declaration of independence from Serbia

Kosovo's ethnic Albanian
leadership called a special session of parliament for 3
p.m. (1400 GMT) Sunday to declare independence _ a bold and
historic bid for statehood in defiance of Serbia and
Russia, reported ap.
Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said lawmakers would vote on a
declaration proclaiming the formation of the Republic of
Kosovo as «an independent, sovereign and democratic
state.» «This is the will of the people,» he said.