The move is opposed by Serbia, several neighbouring countries and most UN members.

Western powers meeting yesterday September 10 under the International Steering Group, ISG, decided to grant the breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo full sovereignty. The group that consists of 23 European Union countries, the United States and Turkey who had earlier recognised Pristina's 2008 declaration of independence, decided that time had come for Kosovo to acquire full independence in spite of Serbia's rejection.

The AFP news agency said the group cited what they described as the territory's clear support of a democratic and multi-ethnic State as a major reason for their action. The formal announcement to lift ISG supervision of the territory came after an afternoon meeting attended by Dutch diplomat, Pieter Feith, who chairs the International Civilian Office (ICO), Kosovo Prime Minister, Hashim Thaci, and a host of other international and Kosovo officials. The announcement was followed last night by celebrations in the main Mother Teresa Square in the capital, Pristina.

Kosovo still has not won full international recognition. Just 91 of the 193 UN member nations have acknowledged its sovereign status while five EU members (Spain, Cyprus, Greece, Romania and Slovakia) are against it. Nearly all of these countries have their own problems with minority groups and fear setting a precedent.

Serbia’s government has repeatedly insisted that it will never recognise the independence of its breakaway province. Tensions between Belgrade and Pristina remain as strong as ever. Kosovo also continues to face opposition from Russia and ethnic Serbs who make up about six per cent of its population.

Kosovo and its two million majority ethnic-Albanian population has been under international administration since a NATO bombing campaign forced then Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic's forces out of the province in 1999. On February 17, 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia.