Voting begins in Kosovo local elections

By Figen Shaban & Furkan Abdula

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AA) - Kosovars began to cast ballots early Sunday in the country's local elections.

More than 1.8 million citizens are eligible to vote in 2,505 polling stations in 38 municipalities to elect mayors and councilors.

According to the Central Election Commission (CEC), 27 of the municipalities have an ethnic Albanian majority, 10 have ethnic Serb majorities, and one is mostly ethnic Turkish.

Thirty-five political parties, a coalition, 25 independent candidates and 30 civic initiatives are represnted in the local elections.

The Turkish Democratic Party of Kosovo (KDTP) and the Kosovo Turkish Justice Party (KTAP) also have representatives running.

Voting booths are open between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time (0500-1700GMT).

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but Belgrade insists the country remains part of Serbia. Since then tensions have remained between Kosovo’s ethnic-Albanian majority and a small Serb minority in the north.

It is recognized by over 100 countries, including the U.S., Britain, France, Germany and Turkey.

Serbia, Russia and China are among the countries which have not yet recognized Kosovo’s independence.