French troops prepared concrete and razor-wire barriers yesterday to separate Serbs from Albanians in the Kosovo flashpoint of Mitrovica, less than 24 hours before the province proclaims independence.
The commander of NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo, French Lieutenant-General Xavier de Marnhac, said his troops "will react and oppose any provocation that may happen during these days, whether from the Albanian or the Serb side".
North of the River Ibar, Serbs held a day of prayer and protest to demonstrate they will never accept the secession of cherished land where a 90 per cent Albanian majority has struggled for its own state for almost two decades.
"We are all expecting something difficult and horrible," Bishop Artemije, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Kosovo, told hundreds of Serbs at St Dimitrije church.
"Our message to you, all Serbs in Kosovo, is to remain in your homes and around your monasteries, regardless of what God allows or our enemies do."
Pre-cast concrete sections three metres high and tall metal barriers wound with razor wire were lined up on the East Bridge over the river. Barricades were also ready on the main bridge to close both off quickly if clashes erupt.
Kosovo's parliament will declare independence today, almost nine years since NATO went to war to save the Albanians from killings and ethnic cleansing by Serb forces trying to crush a rebel insurgency.
The declaration will be made during a parliamentary session in the capital Pristina due to begin at 3 p.m., according to the schedule of events leaked to media yesterday.
In Belgrade, more than 1,000 people gathered with banners, flags and religious icons to protest against the loss of land many consider their religious heartland, steeped in history and the site of dozens of centuries-old Orthodox monasteries.
"We're ready to fight for Kosovo," said protester Ivan Ivanovic. "Kosovo will be returned to us, we'll never accept its independence."
They delivered a petition to the embassy of European Union president Slovenia, condemning EU support for Kosovo's "illegal" secession.
A full-page advertisement in Serbian dailies called for more demonstrations against this "punishment and humiliation".
In Kosovo, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci prayed at the graves of the Jashari family in the village of Prekaz, remembering the March 1998 massacre of more than 50 people by Serb forces that swelled Albanian support for guerilla war.
"We are on the brink of making official the independence of Kosovo," he said on the snow-swept hillside.
Albanian and US flags flew from cars and shops across the UN-run territory as its two million Albanians prepared to celebrate the realisation of their independence dream.
Despite the backing of Russia, Belgrade can do nothing to stop independence or Kosovo's recognition by the West. Serbia's uneasy coalition government is split over whether to reject ties with the European Union over the bloc's backing for Kosovo.
A day ahead of the proclamation, Brussels approved the launch of a 2,000-strong police and justice mission for Kosovo that will take over from the UN administration after a 120-day transition.
Commenting on the mission, Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic, an ally of nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, said Serbia would "have to question its ties" with the EU and states that recognise Kosovo's independence.