Last-ditch talks on the future of Kosovo, currently part of Serbia, are set to begin in the town of Baden close to the capital of Austria, Vienna.

Talks will be attended by diplomats from the European Union, the United States and Russia together with delegations from Belgrade and Pristina.

They will attempt to break the deadlock over the long-term status of Kosovo.

The envoys from the US, the EU and Russia have to report back to the UN secretary general on 10 December.

Time is running out for the negotiations.

But earlier rounds of talks have failed to reach agreement, and there is little hope of a breakthrough now.

The Kosovo Albanians are demanding independence - something the Serbs vehemently oppose.

Belgrade says it will never accept an independent Kosovo - saying such a state would be illegal.

The Americans have backed the idea of independence for Kosovo, the Russians support the Serbs, and the Europeans are still trying to agree on a common line.

Some countries fear independence for Kosovo could encourage ethnic separatism in other regions.

PHOTO CAPTION 

People demonstrating for an independent Kosovo in front of the European Union Commission headquarters in Brussels. [AP:File]

BBC