The UN says Serbia and Kosovo have agreed to co-operate over the deployment of an EU mission for the newly independent province, in a deal which could be in place by early next month.

Diplomats have welcomed Belgrade’s approval, which it has given despite its continuing opposition to Kosovo’s independence.

However, Kosovo’s leaders have refused to accept clauses allowing majority Serb areas to remain under UN supervision.

Kosovo is 90 percent Albanian with a minority of Serbs living mainly in the north. Politicians fear the EU-UN division could lead to a partition of the fledgling state.

The 2,000-strong EU force is due to replace the UN deployment that has administered the former Serbian province since 1999.

It will take over policing and customs duties.

Many Western countries have recognised Kosovo since it declared independence last February, but Serbia, backed by Russia, has refused to do so.

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