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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Kosovo votes in general election | Kosovo votes in general election |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Voting has ended in parliamentary, local and mayoral elections in Kosovo, amid continuing uncertainty over the status of the province. | Voting has ended in parliamentary, local and mayoral elections in Kosovo, amid continuing uncertainty over the status of the province. |
| One hundred of the 120 seats in the provincial assembly were up for direct election, with the rest reserved for Serbs and other minorities. | One hundred of the 120 seats in the provincial assembly were up for direct election, with the rest reserved for Serbs and other minorities. |
| Kosovo is formally part of Serbia but has been run by the UN since 1999. | Kosovo is formally part of Serbia but has been run by the UN since 1999. |
| Ethnic Albanians, backed by the US and others, want independence but Serbia, supported by Russia, is against it. | Ethnic Albanians, backed by the US and others, want independence but Serbia, supported by Russia, is against it. |
| The BBC's Nick Hawton in Pristina, the Kosovan capital, says it appears that a large number of Serbs have boycotted the ballot. | The BBC's Nick Hawton in Pristina, the Kosovan capital, says it appears that a large number of Serbs have boycotted the ballot. |
| The Belgrade government had called on Serbs not to vote so as to avoid legitimising a government that may soon decide to break away from Serbia. | The Belgrade government had called on Serbs not to vote so as to avoid legitimising a government that may soon decide to break away from Serbia. |
| Our correspondent says voting in ethnic Albanian areas was much stronger. | Our correspondent says voting in ethnic Albanian areas was much stronger. |
| Although the elections officially ended at 1800 GMT, a few polling stations stayed opened for queuing voters. | |
| Initial election results are expected in a few hours. | Initial election results are expected in a few hours. |
| Deadline | Deadline |
| Some 150 Council of Europe observers were monitoring voting across the province. | Some 150 Council of Europe observers were monitoring voting across the province. |
| The UN Security Council has not taken a vote on the issue of Kosovo's future because Russia has indicated it would block it. | The UN Security Council has not taken a vote on the issue of Kosovo's future because Russia has indicated it would block it. |
| However, a deadline of 10 December has been set for status talks to be concluded. | However, a deadline of 10 December has been set for status talks to be concluded. |
| Kosovo Albanians have expressed frustration at the slow progress, and have threatened to unilaterally declare independence immediately afterwards. | Kosovo Albanians have expressed frustration at the slow progress, and have threatened to unilaterally declare independence immediately afterwards. |
| The UN has administered Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign forced out Serbian troops in 1999. | The UN has administered Kosovo since a Nato bombing campaign forced out Serbian troops in 1999. |
| Nato maintains troops in the province and boosted their numbers ahead of the vote, amid fears tensions between the communities might spill over. | Nato maintains troops in the province and boosted their numbers ahead of the vote, amid fears tensions between the communities might spill over. |