"If Kosovo is granted independence, not a single Serb will remain in this region. Our delegation at the negotiations on Kosovo's status must bear that in mind," Serbian sources quoted one of the organisers of the rally as saying.
Participants in the rally demanded that Kosovo Serbs be guaranteed freedom of movement and the same degree of political independence from Pristina which Pristina will enjoy in relation to Belgrade.
Serbian media say that almost 30,000 Serbs live in Gnjilane, Kamenica, Vitina and Novo Brdo, the four municipalities of the Kosovo Morava River region.
Albanian representatives from southern Serbia said in Pristina they wanted from Belgrade the same amount of respect for the rights of minorities as demanded for Kosovo Serbs.