WEB DESK

Reports are emerging that the tensions between Serbia and Kosovo in the Balkans are simmering. Serbian President has now put his armed forces on highest level of alert and deployed armaments along the border with Kosovo. This comes days after Serbian Army chief visited the border amid blockades and firing incidents near NATO patrolling troops in the past weeks. The Serbian army says it is at its highest level of combat readiness after weeks of escalating tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.

There is no comment from the Kosovo side so far. The European Union has been attempting to mediate.

Kosovo, which has an overwhelmingly ethnic Albanian majority, broke away from Serbia after a war in 1998-99.

Nato, which has peacekeeping troops in Kosovo, has called on all parties to avoid provocations.