The president of Kosovo has said the breakaway Serbian province is poised to approve laws to underpin its independence declaration, expected this Sunday.

The European Union and Russia said they have failed to narrow differences on this. But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, after talks with EU counterparts, said Moscow was not planning sanctions against Kosovo or its backers after any secession.

Serbia asked for a U.N. Security Council meeting this Thursday, to coincide with its formal rejection of independence. Russia intends to back this.

Lavrow said: "I hope the meeting will enable everyone to frankly describe the positions and situations of each and every party concerned. We are trying to understand what might happen and how it can be avoided. I'm not too optimistic about the Security Council meeting."

Western powers say they are ready to recognise Kosovo within hours of it striking out alone. Serbia's prime minister has said an independence proclamation would be an illegal act by "terrorists".

Albanians in Kosovo number two million. There are about 120,000 Serbs. Serbia's defence minister said an escalation of violence might follow the declaration of independence, though he ruled out military intervention by Belgrade.

A spokesman for the 35-nation NATO-led peacekeeping force KFOR said security had been stepped up.

PHOTO CAPTION

Kosovo's riot police members stand in formation at the training base in Lebane, some 10 km north of Pristina, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008. (AFP)

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