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Shields and batons at the ready, Kosovo's police train for all contingencies ahead of the expected announcement of independence from Serbia. Kosovo Police in cooperation with NATO held a training programme on Wednesday (February 13) in response to possible violence once independence is declared. The exercise was located in the village of Lebane, approximately ten kilometres north of Pristina. Using shields and batons the Kosovan police practised how to deal with a variety of scenarios, including riots and hostage situations. Through a cloud of tear gas, the police advanced on the make-believe rioters, banging their shields with their batons. The pretend rioters added to the realism, pelting the advancing police with bottles and debris. The Kosovan police showed off other aspects of their OSCE training, storming a house in a siege scenario. Dressed all in black, units abseiled through windows as others stormed the doors. Kosovo Police Service, numbering more than 7,300 police officers, aided by some 2,000 UN police maintain law and order in Kosovo. For independence, the Kosovo police force will be in the front-line of maintaining law and order. "Yes we are the first line, we are the support," Kosovo's Police Chief Sheremet Ahmeti said. "We have the backing and support of the General (KFOR). Therefore I believe we are in full readiness to provide safety and security for all Kosovo citizens," Ahmeti added during the training exercise. Security forces in Kosovo, including Kosovo Police, U.N. Police and NATO troops were criticised for not managing the riots in March 2004, where more than 19 people lost their lives and many religious sites were damaged. Onlooking journalists asked General Xavier De Manharc, the commander of KFOR, whether more troops have been deployed ahead of independence. "The question was 'How many soldiers are patrolling the north of Kosovo?', and my answer is 'A sufficient number of soldiers,'" De Manharc said. A recent survey among Kosovo's minority Serbs showed that some 70 percent believe violence will escalate in the province once the Albanian majority declares independence. Some 46 percent said they would then leave an independent Kosovo "at any cost", while a further 23 percent said they would leave once they secured "a minimum" of living conditions elsewhere.