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It follows a Nato request for extra soldiers to maintain public order in the newly independent country.

Britain is responsible for providing the body's standby reserve force for the first six months of this year.

The soldiers, from 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, will be deployed to Kosovo from the end of May for one month to help Nato with peacekeeping activities.

There are currently 150 British troops working in Kosovo.

This latest deployment comes in response to a Nato request to deal with violence between Kosovo's ethnic Albanians and its minority Serbian population.

Mr Browne said in a written statement: "The security situation has remained tense and there have been some sporadic incidents of violence."

He said sending the battalion to Kosovo will demonstrate Britain's commitment to the region's security and will provide extra flexibility in maintaining local peace and stability.

(BBC)

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