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| Kosovo PM claims election victory amid low turnout | Kosovo PM claims election victory amid low turnout |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has claimed victory in national elections marked by a low turnout. | Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci has claimed victory in national elections marked by a low turnout. |
| The former rebel chief's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) is ahead by five percentage points, according to latest results. | |
| For the first time since Kosovo's self-declared independence in 2008, Serbia encouraged ethnic Serbs to vote, to help both countries' EU bids. | For the first time since Kosovo's self-declared independence in 2008, Serbia encouraged ethnic Serbs to vote, to help both countries' EU bids. |
| However, turnout was 42% nationally and even lower in majority Serb areas. | |
| The elections follow last year's agreement to normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina as a pre-condition for their bids to become members of the EU. | The elections follow last year's agreement to normalise relations between Belgrade and Pristina as a pre-condition for their bids to become members of the EU. |
| Kosovo: At a glance | Kosovo: At a glance |
| With the votes of 94% of polling stations counted, the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo was on 26.12% while Mr Thaci's PDK had 31.22%, the Central Election Commission said.s | |
| All parties support Kosovo's ambition to join the EU. | All parties support Kosovo's ambition to join the EU. |
| Kosovo's last national election in 2010 saw a turnout of 47.8%. | Kosovo's last national election in 2010 saw a turnout of 47.8%. |
| There have been no instances of the violence that blighted Kosovo's last two national polls. | There have been no instances of the violence that blighted Kosovo's last two national polls. |
| Mass unemployment | Mass unemployment |
| Almost 30,000 monitors were in action to prevent a repeat of the fraud which also marred the last election, the BBC's Balkans correspondent Guy De Launey reports. | Almost 30,000 monitors were in action to prevent a repeat of the fraud which also marred 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. |
| Kumrje Sahiti, an Albanian voter from Pristina, told the Associated Press she just hoped the best candidate would win. | Kumrje Sahiti, an Albanian voter from Pristina, told the Associated Press she just hoped the best candidate would win. |
| "I am hoping for progress in economy, agriculture and education,", she said. | "I am hoping for progress in economy, agriculture and education,", she said. |
| Agron Bajrami, a local newspaper editor, said it was impossible to predict the outcome. | Agron Bajrami, a local newspaper editor, said it was impossible to predict the outcome. |
| "Today's elections in Kosovo are all about the economy," he said. | "Today's elections in Kosovo are all about the economy," he said. |
| "It is maybe the first time since we declared independence that we are talking only about the wellbeing of people and the unemployment, which is very high." | "It is maybe the first time since we declared independence that we are talking only about the wellbeing of people and the unemployment, which is very high." |
| 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. |
| 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 be "unwise" for ethnic Serbs to abstain. | Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic has said it would be "unwise" for ethnic Serbs to abstain. |