International commission recommends "conditional independence" for Kosovo: The Independent International Commission on Kosovo, headed by Justice Richard Goldstone, has recommended "conditional independence" for Kosovo in a report released today at the UN headquarters in New York. Justice Goldstone told journalists that the Commission had come to the conclusion that it was "not realistic or justifiable" to expect Kosovo Albanians to accept rule from Belgrade after the ethnic cleansing by Serb forces and terrible human rights violations that took place in Kosovo.

Serious crimes in Kosovo declining, says UNMIK police: Serious offenses such as murder, kidnapping, grievous assault and arson have been declining steadily in the past week in Kosovo, UNMIK police spokesman Derek Chappel reported today. He said a pattern has been developing in the past 12 months which points out to the declining crime rate. Last week only four murders were recorded, compared to five six months ago, and only five attempted murders were recorded, compared to 14 six months ago. There were four kidnappings last week, compared to 12 six months ago, and three arsons, compared to nine six months ago, he said.