Serbs in Kosovo have inaugurated their own assembly set up in defiance of the majority ethnic Albanian government and the United Nations.

The gathering was held in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica.

Forty-five members were elected in May during Serbia’s general and municipal elections - a ballot which the UN and Kosovo’s government said was illegal.

Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians declared independence from Serbia in February, despite Serb and Russian opposition.

[Source]