NATO is ready to increase its military contingent in Kosovo in case of a new wave of tension. This was stated by the deputy commander of the peacekeeping mission of the alliance (KFOR), Brigadier General Luca Piperni, Reuters reported.

"We are vigilant and ready to act...if we have an increase of tensions, but we can also draw on reserve forces...that we can call in at short notice," Brigadier General Luca Piperni told reporters at KFOR headquarters in the capital Pristina.

Pristina's demand for state license plates caused tensions between Kosovo and Serbia earlier this year.

Attempts to introduce Kosovo license plates in Serb-populated northern Kosovo led to clashes between police and local Serbs who set up roadblocks.

Pieperni said the situation is calm but fragile at the moment, and that NATO cannot rule out new tensions or violence in the north as the Oct. 31 deadline approaches.

"If the situation deteriorates, we are ready to intervene, we are ready to be in the middle between the protesters and the security organisations," he stressed.

"We have sufficient forces to deal with the situation...With that amount of troops we can end any kind of increase of tensions," Piperni added, referring to troops outside Kosovo that NATO could draw as reinforcements.