British troops ready to be deployed to Kosovo before independence

LONDON, Feb 16 (KUNA) -- British troops were ready to head to Kosovo after violence erupted there before the independence of the region which would be announced tomorrow (Sunday).
A spokesman for the Defense Ministry stated that about 600 soldiers from the First Welsh Battalion would head to Kosovo if violence did not cease, adding that the troops would join 15,000 NATO troops there which is under the leadership of Kosovo Force (KFOR).
He indicated that military officials saw that the number of current troops deployed in Kosovo did not meet with current situation, affirming that the UK was committed to the peace and security of the Balkan region.
The situation in Kosovo required NATO to be more flexible to meet challenges posed by the violence amid the announcement of independence, indicated the spokesman.
About 13,000 Albanians and Serbs were killed in Kosovo region since 1999 when violence erupted. International peacekeeping forces fear that the independence of Kosovo tomorrow will lead to another cycle of violence. (end) ag.gta KUNA 161853 Feb 08NNNN