PRISTINA, Serbia, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci on Sunday summoned parliament to a special session that will declare Kosovo's independence from Serbia, a government source said.

The session was due to begin at 3.00 p.m. (1400 GMT).

The major Western powers back the Albanian majority's demand for its own state, nine years after NATO bombed to drive out Serb forces. Serbia and Russia are strongly opposed.

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