The world's newest nation was born on February 17, when Kosovo declared independence from Serbia. Kosovo has been under United Nations control since 1999, after years of war tore the region apart. The U.N. has been trying to help Serbs and ethnic Albanians come to an agreement about control over the region. Most of the 2 million people who live in Kosovo are ethnic Albanian and Muslim. They do not want to be a part of Serbia, which is mostly Orthodox Christian.
People celebrated the declaration of independence in the streets of Pristina, Kosovo's capital. "This is the happiest day in my life," said Mehdi Shehu. But thousands of Serbians protested in Belgrade, their country's capital. They chanted, "Kosovo is Serbia."
Other countries are divided over Kosovo's independence. The United States, Britain, France and Germany are among the nations that support it. But others, including Russia and Spain, strongly oppose Kosovo's claim.
International military police are trying to keep peace. But despite violent protests in Belgrade, there is celebration elsewhere. "Our hopes have never been higher," says Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. "Kosovo is proud, independent and free."