Tributes paid to Kosovo president

Five days of mourning have been announced for Mr Rugova

International leaders have paid tribute to Kosovo's late president, Ibrahim Rugova, vowing to continue his work for a stable future for the province.

Mr Rugova, 61, died on Saturday after losing a battle with lung cancer.

The UN, which administers Kosovo, said talks on its future - due to start next week - have been delayed to February.

Leaders praised Mr Rugova as a moderating force, although Serb heads expressed fears his death may create a vacuum among his ethnic Albanians.

Mr Rugova died at his home in the Kosovo capital, Pristina. His funeral - originally set for Wednesday - is now due a day later. Five days of mourning have been announced.

Regarded as a moderate proponent of independence, he came to prominence in the 1990s as leader of the resistance against Serbian rule.

'Historical role'

People gathered in the towns and cities of Kosovo on Saturday night to light candles in tribute to the man who has been a political icon for the past 15 years.

He carried his battle with cancer with great dignity and courage until his last breath Muhamet Hamiti, spokesman Press comments differ Obituary: Ibrahim Rugova Kosovo's future: Your views

The BBC's Matt Prodger in Pristina says his death was expected but no less significant for it given the current crucial moment in the province's history.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan vowed his death would not disrupt the talks process, a view echoed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The UN envoy overseeing the talks, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, said: "I'm certain that President Rugova would have liked to see that we will proceed with the status negotiations."

Mr Rugova died shortly before crucial independence talks

French President Jacques Chirac praised the "historical role and political courage that drove Ibrahim Rugova to defend the democratic rights of the Kosovan people".

However, there is no obvious successor to head the Kosovo Albanian negotiating team and Serb leaders expressed concern more hardline elements of the ethnic Albanian community might gain greater power.

Sandra Raskovic-Ivic, the Serbian government representative for Kosovo, said: "I am worried if someone from that echelon takes his place, somebody who would incite unrest and violence to achieve independence."

Kosovo Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic said Mr Rugova left "a big gap in the political scene and I'm afraid a struggle among Albanian political parties will start right now".

Kosovo has been under UN administration since 1999 when a Nato bombing campaign stopped Serb forces expelling ethnic Albanians during a separatist war.

Chemotherapy

The Kosovo president died shortly before midday local time on Saturday (1100 GMT) surrounded by his family, said his spokesman Muhamet Hamiti.

"He carried his battle with cancer with great dignity and courage until his last breath," Mr Hamiti said.

The flag at his home was lowered to half-mast on Saturday.

Mr Rugova, a chain-smoker, was officially diagnosed with lung cancer in September 2005.

He had been undergoing chemotherapy treatment at his residence in Pristina that left him frail and caused him to lose his hair.

Mr Rugova's non-violent campaign for independence earned him high regard in the international community.

When Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic revoked Kosovo's autonomy in 1989, Mr Rugova founded the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), which created its own system of hospitals, schools and taxation, boycotting the Serbian administration.

It gave him "father of the nation" status among some Kosovo Albanians.

The head of parliament, Nexhat Daci, is expected to be named acting president until a new leader is chosen by parliament.