Serb president attends mass in Kosovo
Serbian president Boris Tadic attends Orthodox Christmas mass in Kosovo - a former Serbian province.
Tadic is a regular visitor to this 14th century marble monastery in Decani - one of a number of sites in Kosovo revered by Serbs.
But he is not always welcome - his convoy was reportedly pelted with stones by hundreds of Kosovo Albanians on route to the monastery.
Kosovo, which is 90 per cent Albanian, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 - the last state in the former Yugoslavia to do so - after years of bloody fighting.
Serbia rejects the secession however and Tadic has said his country will never recognise Kosovo's independence.
Tensions have been rising since last July when Kosovo's government tried to stamp its authority on a part of the country mainly inhabited by Serbs.
After the mass,Tadic said he was sending a message of peace.
(SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) SERBIAN PRESIDENT BORIS TADIC, SAYING:
"Only the message of peace makes sense for Christmas, because of this today I send this message to all the citizens of Kosovo, Serbs and Albanians and to representatives of international community."
The spike in tensions between the two countries cost Serbia a shot at membership of the European Union last month.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters
Tadic is a regular visitor to this 14th century marble monastery in Decani - one of a number of sites in Kosovo revered by Serbs.
But he is not always welcome - his convoy was reportedly pelted with stones by hundreds of Kosovo Albanians on route to the monastery.
Kosovo, which is 90 per cent Albanian, declared independence from Serbia in 2008 - the last state in the former Yugoslavia to do so - after years of bloody fighting.
Serbia rejects the secession however and Tadic has said his country will never recognise Kosovo's independence.
Tensions have been rising since last July when Kosovo's government tried to stamp its authority on a part of the country mainly inhabited by Serbs.
After the mass,Tadic said he was sending a message of peace.
(SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) SERBIAN PRESIDENT BORIS TADIC, SAYING:
"Only the message of peace makes sense for Christmas, because of this today I send this message to all the citizens of Kosovo, Serbs and Albanians and to representatives of international community."
The spike in tensions between the two countries cost Serbia a shot at membership of the European Union last month.
Sunita Rappai, Reuters