Parliament has voted to extend the mandate of the Swisscoy soldiers serving in Kosovo until 2011.

The 220-strong unit, part of the multinational Kosovo force (Kfor), has been in the region since 1999.

The Senate on Wednesday unanimously backed the House of Representatives in supporting the continuation of the mission in Kosovo which declared independence from Serbia in February.

Speakers pointed out that stability in the Balkan region was in the interests of Switzerland as it is home to about ten per cent of all Kosovo Albanians.

Senators from the rightwing People's Party and the Greens criticised the government for being one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo's independence.

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