Kosovo holds local elections

Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci poses while casting his ballot at a polling station in Pristina, Kosovo, on Nov. 15, 2009. Kosovo citizens went to polls on Sunday in local elections, the first since its unilateral declaration of independence in February 2008, while its leaders consider the elections as the biggest challenge and test for Kosovo institutions. (Xinhua/Astrit Ibrahimi)

Kosovo citizens are voting Sunday in local elections, the first since its unilateral declaration of independence in February 2008, while its leaders consider the elections as the biggest challenge and test for Kosovo institutions.

Kosovo leaders claim they are committed to organize free and fair elections as they have for the first time all the authorities on election process.

Voting started at 7 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) and is due to be closed at 7 p.m. (1800 GMT). Over 1.56 million people are eligible to elect the mayors of the municipalities and municipal assemblies.

Central Election Commission (CEC) authorities said the polling started in time and without serious irregularities.


A Kosovar Albanian casts his ballot at a polling station in Pristina, Kosovo, on Nov. 15, 2009. (Xinhua/Astrit Ibrahimi)

The head of the CEC, Nesrin Lushta said that 98.49 percent of the polling centers were opened in due time, adding "1.51 percent of planned voting centers was not opened mainly in the municipalities in the north."

CEC faced some obstacles in opening the polling centers in northern Serb-dominated municipalities of Zubin Potok, Zvecan dhe Leposavic.

Lushta said that all polling stations in other Serb localities are opened, and there is a solid participation of Serbs.

Source: Xinhua