Pristina, Kosovo  - Kosovo's medical workers agreed to end their strike Wednesday, after winning a wage increase from the government.

Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's cabinet agreed to add 44 euros (60 dollars) per month for all health system employees. An average doctor's monthly pay before the hike was 250 euros.

The government also accepted to push through health laws and continue negotiating with medical labour unions to improve the largely disregarded sector.

Medical workers went on strike Monday, demanding a 50-per-cent wage increase.

Dubai - The United Arab Emir

Pristina - Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu on Friday congratulated former Finish president Marti Ahtisaari for winning this year's Nobel Peace Prize, saying it was given to the most deserving person.

"This remarkable prize was without a doubt most deserved," local media quoted Sejdiu as saying.

Belgrade - Belgrade has expelled the Montenegrin ambassador and is set to take the same step in relations with Macedonia in reaction to the two countries' recognition of Kosovo, reports said Friday.

Podgorica and Skopje recognized Kosovo, a territory Serbia still claims as its province, Thursday night, some eight months after it unilaterally declared independence.

Though it was certain to strain ties with Serbia, a major trade and economic partner, Montenegro and Macedonia jointly said they "remain committed to further promotion of ... relations with Serbia."

Montenegrin ambassador, Anka Vojvodic, was immediately told she had 48 hours to leave. "It is not a clever and political move," Vojvodic was quoted as saying.

Podgorica - Montenegro on Thursday formally recognized the independence of the breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo, Montenegrin Foreign Minister Milan Rochen reported in the capital Podgorica.

With the unanimous decision by the government, Montenegro became the 50th state to recognize the mostly ethnic Albanian republic.

The US, Japan and nearly all EU states have already recognized Kosovo's independence.

Montenegro and Serbia was part of a common state until two years ago when a referendum to split the two entities was implemented.

Belgrade - Serbian newspapers on Thursday announced a "great diplomatic victory" following a UN decision to seek an advisory legal opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence.

"Serbia's first diplomatic triumph in New York," "Great diplomatic victory" and "Serbia's win: Kosovo at the Court of Justice," mass- circulation dailies Blic and Vecernje Novosti trumpeted.