Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister says Benin has recognized Kosovo as an independent country, becoming the 80th nation to do so. Behgjet Pacolli said Thursday he has received a written confirmation from the President of the West African country, Thomas Boni Yayi, recognizing Kosovo's 2008 secession from Serbia.

This is the third recognition this week and follows Pacolli's West African tour, which also secured recognitions from Niger and Guinea.

Some 10,000 people, most of them ethnic Albanians, were killed duod.