<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">The Serbian army says it is at its "highest level of combat readiness" after weeks of escalating tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">President Aleksandar Vucic says he will "take all measures to protect our people and preserve Serbia".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The sabre-rattling is louder than ever and follows media claims that Pristina is preparing "an attack" on ethnic Serb areas in north Kosovo.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The government in Pristina has made no comment about the allegations.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But it has previously accused Mr Vucic of playing "games" to stir up trouble.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The European Union has been attempting to mediate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The 27-member bloc is calling for "maximum restraint and immediate action", and for the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo to "personally contribute to a political solution".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Serbia refuses to recognise Kosovo as an independent state.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kosovo, which has an overwhelmingly ethnic Albanian majority, broke away from Serbia after a war in 1998-99.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nato, which has peacekeeping troops in Kosovo, has called on all parties to avoid provocations. The EU has warned it will not tolerate attacks on EU police or criminal acts. BBC</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>