The UN General Assembly has voted to refer Kosovo's independence declaration to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The ICJ will be asked to give an advisory, non-binding opinion on the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia in February, according to a BBC News report. Seventy-seven countries voted in favour, six against and 74 abstained, the report says. Serbia and Russia say Kosovo acted illegally, but 48 countries - including the US and most of the EU - have recognised it as independent. Many countries who voted in favour said this was not a political decision but a legal one, and every state had a right to ask the court for an opinion. But the large number of abstentions shows that other countries saw this as highly political, the report noted. The US voted against, calling it an unnecessary and unhelpful move. Most EU countries abstained - Britain called Serbia's request primarily political - but the EU was split, with Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Greece and Cyprus voting in favour. They all said international law should be respected. It could take up to two years for the court to issue its opinion, the report noted.
Full BBC News report