By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
US President George W. Bush on Monday recognized Kosovo's declaration of independence, saying "The Kosovars are now independent."
Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leadership announced its independence from Serbia over the on Sunday, and suspense gripped the province as its citizens awaited key backing from the United States and key European powers.
In an interview with NBC's "Today," Bush said he would be watching to see how events unfolded during the day, but that independence for Kosovo is something that he has advocated.