Kosovo's Prime Minister visited the border with Serbia on Sunday (March 9), ahead of an expected protest by Serbs at Kosovan independence.

Hashim Thaci unveiled a sign reading 'Republic of Kosovo' at Medare.

Thaci commented on the resignation of Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, saying that it was sparked by Kosovo's declaration of independence and he compared the move to the fall of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic.

"In fact the major decisions we made in Kosovo had an impact on the democratization of Serbia. Also in 1999, when we removed the police, army and Serb administration from Kosovo, Milosevic started his fall from power. And now with Kosovo's independence Kostunica has fallen. The mentality of the past has fallen in Serbia. We want to believe it will be this way." Thaci said.

Kostunica resigned on Saturday (March 8), dissolving a coalition that was too divided over the loss of Kosovo to carry on governing.

Kostunica said he would recommend an election in May.

His announcement climaxed a tortuous political struggle over a fundamental question that now faces Serb voters: should they go on working to join the European Union even though Brussels has recognised the secession of their cherished province.

Backed by Russia, Serbia has rejected the February 17 secession of its former province and is instructing the 120,000 remaining Serbs there to sever ties with the 90-percent Albanian majority, deepening the ethnic divide.

Customs, police, courts and transport infrastructure have all been hit in a widening Serb boycott of the new country. The Serb-dominated north stands out as a potential flashpoint.

Russia and Serbia say the secession cannot be imposed on Kosovo Serbs. Less than half live in the north, the rest in scattered enclaves guarded by a 16,000-strong NATO peace force.