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The Kosovar government's decision to introduce new rules sparked clashes.

The government of Kosovo has postponed the introduction of new rules that would force people in most ethnic Serb areas to exchange their Serbian-issued license plates for Kosovo license plates. The rules were supposed to come into effect at midnight on Monday, August 1, but have been postponed by a month after consultations with the US and the EU. Kosovar police have closed two border crossings after Kosovo Serbs erected roadblocks. Shots were also said to have been fired. 

The Kosovar government's decision to introduce new rules, including replacing Serbian license plates with Kosovo's, sparked clashes. About 50.000 people living in most of the Serbian areas in the north use number plates issued by the Serbian authorities and refuse to recognize Kosovar institutions. 

tense

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, after years of tense relations between Serb and mainly Albanian residents. It has been recognized by the United States and the main countries of the European Union, but Serbia, backed by its ally Russia, refuses to do so, as do most ethnic Serbs in Kosovo.

NATO described the situation as "tense" when hundreds of ethnic Serbs parked trucks, tankers and other vehicles at two key border crossings with Serbia in protest of the new rules, forcing police to close the two crossings. Rising tensions led to consultations with US and EU ambassadors. NATO announces that the peacekeeping mission KFOR they lead is ready to intervene if necessary. 

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The government of Kosovo has postponed the introduction of new rules
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