GOD, I have been out of touch! I knew that things were tense, but really.

From the BBC

Serbia ruling coalition collapses

Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has said his coalition has collapsed and is calling for elections.

The move follows his failure to get his cabinet to reject closer ties with the European Union in the wake of Kosovo's declaration of independence.

Mr Kostunica, a nationalist, has described the decision by EU states to recognise Kosovo as illegal.

Serbian President Boris Tadic has said he will call elections, but did not set a date for the poll.

"I respect the prime minister's decision that he is no longer able to lead the government of Serbia and when I get the government's decision, I will call an election," he said in a statement.

"Elections are the democratic way to overcome political crises and the people are the only ones who have right to decide which is the way forward for Serbia."

Secret plan

Mr Tadic says Belgrade will only be able to defend its right to Kosovo if it joins the EU.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on 17 February.

The United States and major EU countries have recognised it as independent.

Serbia, backed by its ally, Russia, says it will never accept an independent Kosovo.

The government in Belgrade has allegedly agreed a secret plan against Kosovo and countries that recognise it.

It is unclear what it contains.