Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on February 17 2008 Serbia in a move that has been expected for months, after the breakdown of talks with Belgrade to accept secession.

The province's 120 members of parliament (MPs) had been called for an extraordinary session, widely expected to pass the declaration and a series of laws that would win Kosovo support from the international community.

The 109 MPs present voted unanimously in favour of the proposal, despite the threat of economic and diplomatic sanctions from Serbia, Reuters reported. However, Belgrade showed no indication it would resort to armed force to keep the province.

"We, the leaders of our people, democratically elected, through this declaration proclaim Kosovo an independent and sovereign state," prime minister Hashim Thaci read from the declaration, as quoted by Reuters.

Kosovo has the support of the United States and most European Union member states, who are expected to quickly recognize Kosovo, although a minority in the bloc have said they would not, fearing that would spark similar movements at home.

Serbian president Boris Tadic and prime minister Vojislav Kostunica both have said that Serbia would declare invalid any unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo. They are supported by Russia, who last year blocked a UN Security Council resolution sanctioning the move.

The date had been leaked earlier in the week and thousands of residents of the province took to the streets already in the morning, in anticipation of the declaration. Serbian officials speculated it was timed to come shortly before a planned meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Bulgaria's official position on Kosovo is that a consensus solution needs to be reached. Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin has repeatedly stressed that a unilateral proclamation of independence would be a bad twist and that a solution should be reached through dialogue.