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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Kosovo votes in local elections | Kosovo votes in local elections |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The people of Kosovo are set to vote in local elections - the first poll since the territory declared independence from Serbia last year. | The people of Kosovo are set to vote in local elections - the first poll since the territory declared independence from Serbia last year. |
| The Kosovan government says it is determined to organise a free and fair election in which both ethnic Albanians and the minority Serbs will vote. | The Kosovan government says it is determined to organise a free and fair election in which both ethnic Albanians and the minority Serbs will vote. |
| Security is tight, especially in Serb areas where some say they fear attacks by other Serbs if they vote. | Security is tight, especially in Serb areas where some say they fear attacks by other Serbs if they vote. |
| Thousands of Nato peacekeepers are still stationed in Kosovo. | Thousands of Nato peacekeepers are still stationed in Kosovo. |
| Polling stations opened at 0700 (0600GMT) and will close at 1900, with early results expected by the end of Sunday evening. | |
| Turnout fear | Turnout fear |
| The BBC's Mark Lowen says most of the 120,000-strong minority Serb population still opposes Kosovo's independence. | The BBC's Mark Lowen says most of the 120,000-strong minority Serb population still opposes Kosovo's independence. |
| Kosovo election divides Serbs Q&A: Kosovo local elections | Kosovo election divides Serbs Q&A: Kosovo local elections |
| A turnout of only about 40% is expected. | A turnout of only about 40% is expected. |
| And one Albanian opposition group is discouraging people from voting, because they say this election gives too much power to the municipalities, some of which might end up controlled by Serbs. | And one Albanian opposition group is discouraging people from voting, because they say this election gives too much power to the municipalities, some of which might end up controlled by Serbs. |
| Ten years on from Kosovo's brutal war, reconciliation between the two communities is slow. | Ten years on from Kosovo's brutal war, reconciliation between the two communities is slow. |
| There may be a moderate Serb turnout in this election, but many here are likely to follow Belgrade's call for a boycott | There may be a moderate Serb turnout in this election, but many here are likely to follow Belgrade's call for a boycott |
| If this election is deemed free and fair, it may increase the chance of more states recognising an independent Kosovo. | If this election is deemed free and fair, it may increase the chance of more states recognising an independent Kosovo. |
| President Fatmir Sejdiu has called for people to come out and vote. | President Fatmir Sejdiu has called for people to come out and vote. |
| "This Sunday should prove to the world that Kosovo is a stable country that produces peace and stability in the region," he said. | "This Sunday should prove to the world that Kosovo is a stable country that produces peace and stability in the region," he said. |