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Hundreds demonstrate in Montenegro against first visit by Kosovo foreign minister

Associated Press
Published | Updated

A protester holding a banner reading "War criminal - Hashim Thaci" during protest against the visit by Kosovo's Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci, in Podgorica, Montenegro, Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. Thaci, the wartime political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army arrived on a two-day visit in Podgorica where he is to hold several meetings with Montenegrin’s top officials. (AP Photo/Risto Bozovic) (The Associated Press)

A protester shouts slogans towards a police line during a protest against the visit by Kosovo's Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, in Podgorica, Montenegro, Friday, Jan. 16, 2015. Thaci, the wartime political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army arrived on a two-day visit in Podgorica where he is to hold several meetings with Montenegrin’s top officials. (AP Photo/Risto Bozovic) (The Associated Press)

Hundreds of Serb nationalists have demonstrated in Montenegro against Kosovo foreign minister's visit, chanting "Kill! Kill!" as he met Friday with his Montenegrin counterpart Igor Luiksic.

Foreign Minister Hashim Thaci was the highest-level Kosovo Albanian official to visit Montenegro since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008.

Montenegro has established diplomatic ties with Kosovo despite opposition from Serbia, which has refused to recognize the statehood of its former province.

Serb nationalists accuse Thaci, a former ethnic Albanian rebel leader, of war crimes against Kosovo Serbs during the 1998-99 war for independence.

Serbia and Montenegro were a single state until Montenegro split in 2006.