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Monitors to rule on Kosovo vote Monitors positive on Kosovo vote
(about 8 hours later)
Kosovo's election commission is set to announce the result of the first poll since the country declared independence from Serbia last year. International monitors say they are generally happy with the way Kosovo's local elections were conducted.
PM Hashim Thaci assured supporters after polls closed on Sunday that his Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) had won 20 of 36 contested municipalities. European monitors said the poll - the first since the country declared independence from Serbia last year - met many international standards.
PM Hashim Thaci says his Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) won 20 of 36 contested municipalities on Sunday.
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. The vote was seen as a crucial test of the democratic credentials of Kosovo's young government, and important for 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 of the UN's 192 members.
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. Security was tight, especially in Serb areas.
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 peacefully, with turnout among minority Serbs thought to be higher than expected in some areas. Officials 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. On Monday Mr Thaci told cheering supporters in Pristina that the PDK's victory was a testament to "good governance in the republic of Kosovo".
The announcement sparked hours of noisy festivities in the city, with fireworks bursting overhead and cars sounding their horns in celebration. The BBC's Mark Lowen in Priostina says that the most important development in this election is that the Serbs voted in some areas of Kosovo for the first time, leading to fresh hopes for multi-ethnic democracy in the territory.
Earlier, Mr Thaci had described the election as "the most important since the proclamation of independence". The chair of the European Parliament's observer delegation, Doris Pack, said she was happy with the number of those who had voted, especially among Serbs.
"We today confirm that our country has deserved to be independent and to have a European perspective," he said after casting his ballot. The conduct of the poll showed "that Kosovo is on its way to becoming a very functioning state", she said.
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 war, reconciliation between the two communities is slow, says our correspondent. Thousands of Nato peacekeepers are still stationed there.
Are you in Kosovo? Did you vote? What outcome are you hoping for? How important is this poll for Kosovo? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Kosovo? Did you vote? What outcome are you hoping for? How important is this poll for Kosovo? Send us your comments using the form below.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions