A website prominently used by Russia's North Caucasus rebels on Sunday denied any link to the Boston Marathon bombings that have been blamed on two ethnic-Chechen suspects. "The command of the Vilayat Dagestan mujaheddin... declares that the Caucasus fighters are not waging any military activities against the United States of America. We are only fighting Russia," the Kavkacenter.com website said in an official statement. zak/rmb

The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo initialled a historic deal Friday to normalise ties, a move key to the future of the Western Balkans and destined also to bring both closer to the European Union. Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci signed a 15-point agreement struck after two years of tough talks to reduce mutual tension and immediately won praise from around the world. "What we are seeing is a step away from the past and, for both of them, a step closer to Europe," said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Serbia and its former province of Kosovo initialled a historic deal Friday to normalise ties, a move key to the future of the Western Balkans and destined also to bring both closer to the European Union. Hailed as a milestone deal by EU leaders, the premiers of Serbia and Kosovo, Ivica Dacic and Hashim Thaci, put their signatures to a 15-point agreement struck after two years of tough talks to reduce mutual tension. "What we are seeing is a step away from the past and, for both of them, a step closer to Europe," said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Kosovo Serbs want Serbia to hold a referendum on whether to accept the EU-sponsored deal signed on Friday in Brussels between Belgrade and Pristina that would normalise their relations. Kosovo Serb deputies in northern Kosovo "demand a referendum in Serbia to be called in which the citizens will decide whether Kosovo will remain in Serbia or accept the deal that would give it a date to start negotiations with the EU," said a resolution adopted after the deal was signed in Brussels.