Apathy overshadows Kosovo vote

Rugova is seeking independence for Kosovo

There has been a low turnout in Kosovo's local elections - which have been seen as a test of the prospects for democracy in the southern Yugoslav province.

(The Serbs) have excluded themselves from the chance which comes from this vote

Michael Steiner
UN administrator in Kosovo

Less than 55% of eligible voters took part, according to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which supervised Saturday's poll.

It was the second municipal election since Kosovo came under United Nations administration in 1999 - and the first in which the minority Serbs participated.

But turnout was particularly low among the Serbs, who represent about 10% of the population.

Correspondents say the result is a setback for efforts to integrate the community into the running of Kosovo

Extra powers?

The UN administration had made the participation of Serbs a priority, after their boycott of elections two years ago.

Guns were barred from polling stations

But officials said much less than half of Kosovo's Serb voters took part. Among those living in Serbia - who were also eligible to vote - turnout was as low as 13%.

"They (the Serbs) have excluded themselves from the chance which comes from this vote," said Kosovo's UN administrator Michael Steiner.

Earlier, he had indicated that local authorities could gain more powers if they received strong backing in the elections.

But it is not yet clear if the 55% overall turnout has been high enough for that to happen.

Mr Steiner blamed the results on voter fatigue after three consecutive polls, including a parliamentary election in 2001.

Moderate Serb leaders, both in Kosovo and in Belgrade, favoured participation.

But hard-line Serbs urged people to stay at home, saying the UN had not done enough to improve conditions for the province's Serb population.

Towards independence

In areas dominated by ethnic Albanians, early results indicated a victory for the party of President Ibrahim Rugova.

Moderate Serb leaders did vote

His main challenger is former rebel leader Hashim Thaci.

Both leaders said the elections were a crucial step towards independence for Kosovo.

Voters in 30 municipalities were choosing 920 local councillors.

Among the Albanians, opinion polls showed widespread disillusionment with parties across the political spectrum - a feature of several recent Balkan elections.

In Serbia, presidential elections had to be annulled altogether after turnout fell below the legal minimum.