A big rally under the slogan “Kosovo is Serbia” was scheduled to be held in Belgrade on the night of February 21 2008, Dnevnik daily said.

Backed by the Serbian government and political parties, the rally was expected to gather tens of thousands of people from all over the country in front of the Skupština, the building of the Serbian parliament, and neighbouring boulevards. Free transportation was provided for those living outside Belgrade who wanted to take part in the protest.

In the absence of Serbian president Boris Tadić, who was visiting Romania -- the only neighbouring country to come out and condemn Kosovo's declaration of independence, Serbian prime minister Vojislav Koštunica would address the protesters on behalf of the Serbian state institutions.

Apart from Koštunica, deputy chairman of the Serbian Radical Party Tomislav Nikolić would also speak before the crowd, the Serbian state television announced. World-famous film director Emir Kusturica was also expected to make a statement.

Serbia's education ministry also declared February 21 a school holiday, Dnevnik daily reported.

According to Serbian minister for Kosovo and Metohija, Slobodan Samardžić, the protest would channel the discontent of Serbian people and allow them to express it in the open. “This is one of the ways in which the state is expressing its discontent with what is happening to it,” he said.

After the rally and the speeches, the protesters would march to the Cathedral of Saint Sava, where a religious service has been scheduled.