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| Kosovo holds parliamentary elections | Kosovo holds parliamentary elections |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| People in Kosovo are voting in parliamentary elections, which are seen as a vital test for the territory's EU bid. | |
| Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) is hoping to win the polls, giving the ex-rebel chief his third term in office. | |
| But he is facing a strong challenge from Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). | But he is facing a strong challenge from Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK). |
| For the first time since Kosovo's self-declared independence in 2008, Serbia is encouraging ethnic Serbs to vote. | For the first time since Kosovo's self-declared independence in 2008, Serbia is encouraging ethnic Serbs to vote. |
| This follows last year's agreement to normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina as a pre-condition for their bids to become members of the EU. | This follows last year's agreement to normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina as a pre-condition for their bids to become members of the EU. |
| Mass unemployment | Mass unemployment |
| Almost 30,000 monitors are in Kosovo to prevent a repeat of the fraud which blighted the last election, the BBC's Balkans correspondent Guy De Launey reports. | Almost 30,000 monitors are in Kosovo to prevent a repeat of the fraud which blighted the last election, the BBC's Balkans correspondent Guy De Launey reports. |
| In 2010, diplomats and election monitors witnessed ballot-stuffing and other irregularities, and voting had to be held again at more than 20 polling stations, our correspondent says. | In 2010, diplomats and election monitors witnessed ballot-stuffing and other irregularities, and voting had to be held again at more than 20 polling stations, our correspondent says. |
| Although Belgrade still rejects Kosovo's independence, it is encouraging the ethnic Serb community to take part in the elections. | Although Belgrade still rejects Kosovo's independence, it is encouraging the ethnic Serb community to take part in the elections. |
| Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has said it would "unwise" for the Serbs to abstain from the vote, according to the AFP news agency. | Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has said it would "unwise" for the Serbs to abstain from the vote, according to the AFP news agency. |
| However, the key issue for many voters has been mass unemployment in the impoverished territory. | However, the key issue for many voters has been mass unemployment in the impoverished territory. |
| About two out of three under-25s are currently jobless, and nearly 50% of Kosovo's 1.8 million people are considered to be poor. | About two out of three under-25s are currently jobless, and nearly 50% of Kosovo's 1.8 million people are considered to be poor. |
| Polling stations opened at 05:00 GMT and close at 17:00 GMT. |