Serbian poll off to a slow start

PRISTINA, DEC. 23. Serbia's parliamentary election got off to a shaky start in Kosovo today with some polling stations failing to open on time. Voters in the Serbian part of the divided city of Kosovska Mitrovica and Gracanica trickled in to cast their ballots in what they saw as a symbolic gesture to show the U.N.- run province was still part of Serbia.

But in nearby Pristina itself, the main Serb neighbourhood's polling station remained closed one hour after the official opening time of 7 a.m. 1130 hrs IST and heavily guarded by NATO- led Kosovo Force troops (KFOR). There was no explanation for the delay. Most Serbs in the dominant Yugoslav republic are expected to vote for a final end to the rule of the former Yugoslav President, Mr. Slobodan Milosevic, and his Socialist Party by voting for supporters of the reform-minded current President, Mr. Vojislav Kostounica, whose supporters ousted Mr. Milosevic in October. For the embattled Serb minority in Kosovo, living in impoverished enclaves guarded by international troops, who wins is less important than the fact the ballot is being held.

This sentiment makes the poll of no less symbolic importance for the Serbs remaining in Kosovo than municipal elections held two months ago were for the ethnic Albanian majority. The Albanians saw that poll as a referendum on independence from Serbia, Kosovo's oppressor under Mr. Milosevic.

An ethnic Albanian party led by a former guerrilla commander, planned a protest at midday 1630 hrs IST against the Serbian parliamentary ballot in the regional capital Pristina. The Serbian Electoral Commission said it had sent ballot papers to 12 out of 16 Kosovo municipalities, but had excluded some, mostly in the southeastern Gniljane area, for security reasons. A protest from the region was rejected.

- Reuters

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Section  : International
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