By Matt Robinson
MITROVICA, Serbia (Reuters) - French troops preparedconcrete and razor-wire barriers on Saturday to separate Serbsfrom Albanians in the Kosovo flashpoint of Mitrovica, less than24 hours before the province proclaims independence.
The commander of NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo, FrenchLieutenant-General Xavier de Marnhac, said his troops "willreact and oppose any provocation that may happen during thesedays, whether from the Albanian or the Serb side".
North of the River Ibar, Serbs held a day of prayer andprotest to demonstrate they will never accept the secession ofcherished land where a 90 percent Albanian majority hasstruggled for its own state for almost two decades.
"We are all expecting something difficult and horrible,"Bishop Artemije, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church inKosovo, told hundreds of Serbs at the St Dimitrije church.
"Our message to you, all Serbs in Kosovo, is to remain inyour homes and around your monasteries, regardless of what Godallows or our enemies do."
Pre-cast concrete sections three metres (10 feet) high andtall metal barriers wound with razor wire were lined up on theEast Bridge over the river. Barricades were also ready on themain bridge to close both off quickly if clashes erupt.
Kosovo's parliament will declare independence on Sunday,almost nine years since NATO went to war to save the Albaniansfrom killings and ethnic cleansing by Serb forces trying tocrush a rebel insurgency.
The declaration will be made during a parliamentary sessionin the capital Pristina due to begin at 3.00 p.m. (2 p.m.British time), according to the schedule of events leaked tomedia on Saturday.
In Belgrade, more than 1,000 people gathered with banners,flags and religious icons to protest against the loss of landmany consider their religious heartland, steeped in history andthe site of dozens of centuries-old Orthodox monasteries.
"We're ready to fight for Kosovo," said protester IvanIvanovic. "Kosovo will be returned to us, we'll never acceptits independence."
They delivered a petition to the embassy of European Unionpresident Slovenia, condemning EU support for Kosovo's"illegal" secession.
A full-page advertisement in Serbian dailies called formore demonstrations against this "punishment and humiliation".
PROVOCATION
In Kosovo, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci prayed at the gravesof the Jashari family in the village of Prekaz, remembering theMarch 1998 massacre of more than 50 people by Serb forces thatswelled Albanian support for guerrilla war.
"We are on the brink of making official the independence ofKosovo," he said on the snow-swept hillside.
Albanian and U.S. flags flew from cars and shops across theU.N.-run territory as its 2 million Albanians prepared tocelebrate the realisation of their independence dream.
Despite the backing of Russia, Belgrade can do nothing tostop independence or Kosovo's recognition by the West. Serbia'suneasy coalition government is split over whether to rejectties with the European Union over the bloc's backing forKosovo.
A day ahead of the proclamation, Bru
