(BANJA LUKA) - The Bosnian Serb parliament said Thursday their entity had the right to secede from Bosnia if a significant number of the UN and most European Union countries recognise Kosovo's independence.

"If a significant number of the UN members, notably the EU members, recognise the independence of Kosovo ... In that case the Republika Srpska assembly believes it has the right to launch a referendum to reconsider its (Bosnian Serb entity's) statehood status," a resolution adopted by an overwhelming majority in the parliament said.

Kosovo's independence proclamation has raised concerns about the future of Bosnia, which since its 1992-1995 war has been split into two entities -- the Serbs' Republika Srpska and the Muslim-Croat Federation.

Each has its own government, parliament and police while they share weak central institutions.

Many Bosnian Serbs feel their entity should follow Kosovo's lead and be allowed to secede from Bosnia and eventually attach itself to Serbia, which they see as their "motherland".

Analysts say that a referendum on independence of Republika Srpska would likely be supported by an overwhelming majority of population.

Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik voiced a similar view over the issue.

"Recognition of Kosovo by a significant number of UN members is the confirmation of new rights and principles," Dodik told the lawmakers before the resolution was voted upon.

"Then we can also understand the unilateral proclamation of independence as a sign that the RS in the future can also count on such a right.

"In such a situation the RS will not hesitate to check the opinion of its people regarding its status in a referendum," he stressed.

The resolution, adopted at an extraordinary session over Kosovo, stressed that the RS assembly does not recognise Kosovo's independence and condemned the countries who made the move.

On Thursday several thousand Bosnian Serbs protested against Kosovo's independence across Republika Srpska, clashing with police in their stronghold of Banja Luka.

Five police officers were injured while several protesters were detained, local radio reported. Several shop windows were smashed, including at least two shops belonging to ethnic Albanians, according to witnesses.

So far, Bosnian Serb politicians were divided over the Kosovo issue, as the ruling party rejected opposition nationalists' demands to follow suit.

The top international envoy to Bosnia, Miroslav Lajcak, on Thursday rejected once again any links between Bosnia and Kosovo.

He described as "irresponsible" calls for independence of the Bosnian Serb entity coming from the opposition nationalist Serb Democratic Party.

So far, notably the United States and 23 of the 27 EU member states have backed Kosovo's independence, either formally recognising it or declaring their intention to do so.

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