The action follows last week's ban by Kosovar authorities on goods coming in from Serbia, a decision made to counter Serbia's ongoing rejection of Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence. Interior Minister Bajram Rexhepi told The Associated Press said Kosovar authorities were forced to move after the European Union's rule of law mission, known as EULEX, failed to enforce the ban.

He said some 40 policemen are in control of one checkpoint, while a second group is engaged in a tense stand off with local Serbs blocking access to another border crossing.

Both crossings were set on fire by rioting Serbs on the eve of Kosovo's secession and have since been loosely manned by the 3,000-strong EU mission.

EULEX spokesman Nicholas Hawton said the force was not part of the operation.

NATO peacekeepers have been deployed to the area to deal with any violent threats and their top commander Maj. Gen. Erhard Buehler has engaged in talks with Serb demonstrators to defuse the situation, a NATO official told AP.

AP