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Former ethnic-Albanian rebels from southern Serbia say they welcome Kosovo's independence but it will not inspire them to resume their armed struggle against Belgrade.
The rebels led a brief uprising against Serb forces in 2000-2001. The insurgency ended with a Nato-brokered peace deal that called for the rebels to disarm and be re-integrated into society.
"We are backing Kosovo's independence,"said Lulzim Ibishi the head of a veterans' group representing the now-defunct Liberation Army of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja said.
"We know that people from the Presevo valley are unhappy as the area will remainIbishi said.Ibishi says his organization plans to celebrate Kosovo's independence inside its offices in Bujanovac.Local ethnic Albanian leaders have warned against public celebrations, he said.
in Serbia but we are not in favour of armed conflicts,"
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