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| Monitors to rule on Kosovo vote | Monitors to rule on Kosovo vote |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Kosovo's election commission is set to announce the result of the first poll since the country declared independence from Serbia last year. | Kosovo's election commission is set to announce the result of the first poll since the country declared independence from Serbia last year. |
| PM Hashim Thaci assured supporters after polls closed on Sunday that his Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) had won 20 of 36 contested municipalities. | PM Hashim Thaci assured supporters after polls closed on Sunday that his Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) had won 20 of 36 contested municipalities. |
| President Fatmir Sejdiu's Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said it had won the mayoral race in Pristina. | President Fatmir Sejdiu's Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) said it had won the mayoral race in Pristina. |
| Official results are expected in the next few hours. | Official results are expected in the next few hours. |
| The vote was seen as a crucial test of the democratic credentials of Kosovo's young government, and observers are expected to give their verdict on whether polling met international standards - a crucial goal in Kosovo's search for wider recognition. | The vote was seen as a crucial test of the democratic credentials of Kosovo's young government, and observers are expected to give their verdict on whether polling met international standards - a crucial goal in Kosovo's search for wider recognition. |
| It has so far been recognised by 63 out of 192 UN members, and if the election is deemed to have been free and fair, that figure may increase, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in the capital Pristina. | It has so far been recognised by 63 out of 192 UN members, and if the election is deemed to have been free and fair, that figure may increase, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in the capital Pristina. |
| 'Proclamation of independence' | 'Proclamation of independence' |
| The government had been keen to ensure both the majority Albanians and the Serb minority took part in voting and security was tight, especially in Serb areas where some say they fear attacks by other Serbs if they vote. | The government had been keen to ensure both the majority Albanians and the Serb minority took part in voting and security was tight, especially in Serb areas where some say they fear attacks by other Serbs if they vote. |
| The victory of the PDK presents a referendum about good governance in the republic of Kosovo Hashim ThaciKosovo prime minister Kosovo election divides Serbs Q&A: Kosovo local elections | The victory of the PDK presents a referendum about good governance in the republic of Kosovo Hashim ThaciKosovo prime minister Kosovo election divides Serbs Q&A: Kosovo local elections |
| Voting passed off calmly, with turnout among minority Serbs thought to be higher than expected in some areas. Election authorities put the overall turnout at about 45%. | Voting passed off calmly, with turnout among minority Serbs thought to be higher than expected in some areas. Election authorities put the overall turnout at about 45%. |
| "The victory of the PDK presents a referendum about good governance in the republic of Kosovo," Mr Thaci told hundreds of supporters who were chanting his name in Pristina in the early hours of Monday morning. | "The victory of the PDK presents a referendum about good governance in the republic of Kosovo," Mr Thaci told hundreds of supporters who were chanting his name in Pristina in the early hours of Monday morning. |
| The announcement sparked hours of noisy festivities in the city, with fireworks bursting overhead and cars sounding their horns in celebration. | The announcement sparked hours of noisy festivities in the city, with fireworks bursting overhead and cars sounding their horns in celebration. |
| Earlier, Mr Thaci had described the election as "the most important since the proclamation of independence". | Earlier, Mr Thaci had described the election as "the most important since the proclamation of independence". |
| "We today confirm that our country has deserved to be independent and to have a European perspective," he said after casting his ballot. | "We today confirm that our country has deserved to be independent and to have a European perspective," he said after casting his ballot. |
| Perhaps the most important development in this election is that the minority Serbs voted in some areas of Kosovo for the first time, says our correspondent, leading to fresh hopes for the territory's development as a multi-ethnic democracy. | Perhaps the most important development in this election is that the minority Serbs voted in some areas of Kosovo for the first time, says our correspondent, leading to fresh hopes for the territory's development as a multi-ethnic democracy. |
| Most of the 120,000-strong minority Serb population still opposes Kosovo's independence. | Most of the 120,000-strong minority Serb population still opposes Kosovo's independence. |
| Serbia had urged Kosovo Serbs not to take part in the poll, for fear of legitimising Kosovo's independence, but some local Serb politicians said people should ignore that call. | Serbia had urged Kosovo Serbs not to take part in the poll, for fear of legitimising Kosovo's independence, but some local Serb politicians said people should ignore that call. |
| Momcilo Trajkovic, who was running for mayor in the Gracanica enclave near Pristina, said the vote represented "a crossroads for Kosovo Serbs". | Momcilo Trajkovic, who was running for mayor in the Gracanica enclave near Pristina, said the vote represented "a crossroads for Kosovo Serbs". |
| Ten years on from Kosovo's brutal war, reconciliation between the two communities is slow, says our correspondent. Thousands of Nato peacekeepers are still stationed there. | Ten years on from Kosovo's brutal war, reconciliation between the two communities is slow, says our correspondent. Thousands of Nato peacekeepers are still stationed there. |
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