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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Kosovo votes in local elections | Kosovo votes in local elections |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The people of Kosovo have voted in local elections - the first poll since the territory declared independence from Serbia last year. | |
| Turnout was put at about 45% by the election authorities. | |
| The Kosovan government had said it was determined to organise a free and fair election in which both ethnic Albanians and the minority Serbs would vote. | |
| Security has been tight, especially in Serb areas where some say they fear attacks by other Serbs if they vote. | Security has been 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 closed at 1900 (1800GMT), with early results expected by the end of Sunday evening. | |
| Accountability | Accountability |
| 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. |
| Zoja Bujupi, a Kosovo Albanian, said she was voting "for the good of our state, for the good of all of us". | Zoja Bujupi, a Kosovo Albanian, said she was voting "for the good of our state, for the good of all of us". |
| We believe it is the lesser of two evils to participate in the elections Momcilo TrajkovicKosovo Serb leader Kosovo election divides Serbs Q&A: Kosovo local elections | We believe it is the lesser of two evils to participate in the elections Momcilo TrajkovicKosovo Serb leader Kosovo election divides Serbs Q&A: Kosovo local elections |
| Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said the vote was "the most important since the proclamation of independence". | Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said the vote was "the most important since the proclamation of independence". |
| "We today confirm that our country has deserved to be independent and to have an European perspective," Mr Thaci said after casting his ballot in the capital, Pristina. | "We today confirm that our country has deserved to be independent and to have an European perspective," Mr Thaci said after casting his ballot in the capital, Pristina. |
| Serbia has urged Kosovo Serbs not to take part in the poll, for fear of legitimising Kosovo's independence. | Serbia has urged Kosovo Serbs not to take part in the poll, for fear of legitimising Kosovo's independence. |
| But some local Serb politicians have said people should ignore that call. | But some local Serb politicians have said people should ignore that call. |
| Momcilo Trajkovic, who is running for mayor in the Gracanica enclave near Pristina, said the vote represented "a crossroads for Kosovo Serbs". | Momcilo Trajkovic, who is running for mayor in the Gracanica enclave near Pristina, said the vote represented "a crossroads for Kosovo Serbs". |
| "We believe it is the lesser of two evils to participate in the elections, and it is possible this lesser evil can be turned into something good," Mr Trajkovic, leader of the Serbian Resistance Movement, said according to AFP news agency. | "We believe it is the lesser of two evils to participate in the elections, and it is possible this lesser evil can be turned into something good," Mr Trajkovic, leader of the Serbian Resistance Movement, said according to AFP news agency. |
| Meanwhile there was a call for a boycott on the other side of the ethnic divide. | |
| One Albanian opposition group is discouraging people from voting, because they say the election gives too much power to the municipalities, some of which might end up controlled by Serbs. | One Albanian opposition group is discouraging people from voting, because they say the 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, says our correspondent. | Ten years on from Kosovo's brutal war, reconciliation between the two communities is slow, says our correspondent. |
| If this election is deemed free and fair, it may increase the chance of more states recognising an independent Kosovo, our correspondent says. | If this election is deemed free and fair, it may increase the chance of more states recognising an independent Kosovo, our correspondent says. |
| Kosovo has so far been recognised by 63 out of 192 UN members. | Kosovo has so far been recognised by 63 out of 192 UN members. |