Polls close in Kosovo elections

47.8 percent of voters cast their ballots by the end of voting in the Kosovo elections today, the Kosovo Central Election Commission (CEC) said. CEC's Valdete Daka said that mobile polling stations were open in northern Kosovo as well, adding that the turnout in these locations was "lower". Polls close in Kosovo elections The polls closed at 19:00 CET. The elections were organized by the Kosovo Albanian government in Pristina. The BBC reported that exit polls suggested Hashim Thaci's PDK had won 31 percent of votes, followed by LDK with 25 percent. The radical ethnic Albanian Self-Determination Movement managed to get 16 percent of the cast votes, according to this. The exit poll did not provide any numbers concerning the likely outcome in those Serb enclaves in the province where voting took place. Daka said earlier in the day that there were incidents between representatives of certain parties at the polls in Strpce and Malisevo municipalities, stressing that these were isolated incidents which could not jeopardize the overall election process. Three out of 14 mobile polling stations, that were opened in northern Kosovo this morning, have been closed after local residents prevented their work, Kosovska Mitrovica-based radio Kontakt plus reported. Most of the polls in Kosovo were opened at 07:00 CET and voting is going smoothly, CEC has announced. 1,630,636 voters were eligible to vote in the first parliamentary elections since Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in February of 2008. There are 2,280 polls and 29 political parties and citizens’ initiatives are taking part in the elections. More than 1,260 candidates were running for 120 assembly seats. 20 seats were reserved for Serbs and other non-Albanian communities. 32,021 observers monitored the elections. 493 observers are representatives of international organizations and NGOs will have 5,108 observers. EULEX Head Xavier Bout de Marnhac said that the role of EULEX in the early elections in Kosovo was to “support the Kosovo police with supervision, monitoring and advice during the elections, both in the southern and northern Kosovo.” “We have absolute trust that the Kosovo police will perform its tasks on the election day. We expect no problems, but we are fully prepared for any possible scenario,” de Marnhac concluded. Hashim Thaci casts his vote (Tanjug) Incident in Gornja Bitinja An incident happened at a poll in the village of Gornja Bitinja near Strpce around 9:00 CET, when a member of the electoral board was attacked, Kosovo police Spokesman Agim Gashi has confirmed. He told FoNet that the attacked member of the electoral board sustained minor injuries but that the voting at the poll had continued after the incident, which was the first one so far. FoNet has unofficially learned that he was attacked by Strpce Municipal President Bratislav Nikolic, but his Independent Liberal Party has denied his involvement in the incident. 6,000 police officers to provide security 6,000 policemen will provide security for the elections in Kosovo, Kosovo police (KPS) has announced. According to the announcement, an operational plan has been developed and regional police commands have prepared and harmonized their plans. “Purpose of the operational plan is to create an atmosphere of peace and security for the voters and citizens of Kosovo and to maintain public peace and order and security situation before, during and after the election process,” the announcement reads. Kosovo police has also announced that 1,000 police officers and cadets of the Vucitrn Police Academy will be responsible for security in north Kosovo due to increased risks. According to the plan, police officers will be securing all municipal ballot counting centers and transport of ballots. EULEX and KFOR will help Kosovo police maintain peace, order and security.

Polls close in Kosovo elections

The polls closed at 19:00 CET. The elections were organized by the Kosovo Albanian government in Priština.

The BBC reported that exit polls suggested Hashim Thaci's PDK had won 31 percent of votes, followed by LDK with 25 percent.

The radical ethnic Albanian Self-Determination Movement managed to get 16 percent of the cast votes, according to this.

The exit poll did not provide any numbers concerning the likely outcome in those Serb enclaves in the province where voting took place.

Daka said earlier in the day that there were incidents between representatives of certain parties at the polls in Štrpce and Mališevo municipalities, stressing that these were isolated incidents which could not jeopardize the overall election process.

Three out of 14 mobile polling stations, that were opened in northern Kosovo this morning, have been closed after local residents prevented their work, Kosovska Mitrovica-based radio Kontakt plus reported.

Most of the polls in Kosovo were opened at 07:00 CET and voting is going smoothly, CEC has announced.

1,630,636 voters were eligible to vote in the first parliamentary elections since Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in February of 2008.

There are 2,280 polls and 29 political parties and citizens’ initiatives are taking part in the elections.

More than 1,260 candidates were running for 120 assembly seats. 20 seats were reserved for Serbs and other non-Albanian communities.

32,021 observers monitored the elections. 493 observers are representatives of international organizations and NGOs will have 5,108 observers.

EULEX Head Xavier Bout de Marnhac said that the role of EULEX in the early elections in Kosovo was to “support the Kosovo police with supervision, monitoring and advice during the elections, both in the southern and northern Kosovo.”

“We have absolute trust that the Kosovo police will perform its tasks on the election day. We expect no problems, but we are fully prepared for any possible scenario,” de Marnhac concluded.

Incident in Gornja Bitinja

An incident happened at a poll in the village of Gornja Bitinja near Štrpce around 9:00 CET, when a member of the electoral board was attacked, Kosovo police Spokesman Agim Gashi has confirmed.

He told FoNet that the attacked member of the electoral board sustained minor injuries but that the voting at the poll had continued after the incident, which was the first one so far.

FoNet has unofficially learned that he was attacked by Štrpce Municipal President Bratislav Nikolić, but his Independent Liberal Party has denied his involvement in the incident.

6,000 police officers to provide security

6,000 policemen will provide security for the elections in Kosovo, Kosovo police (KPS) has announced.

According to the announcement, an operational plan has been developed and regional police commands have prepared and harmonized their plans.

“Purpose of the operational plan is to create an atmosphere of peace and security for the voters and citizens of Kosovo and to maintain public peace and order and security situation before, during and after the election process,” the announcement reads.

Kosovo police has also announced that 1,000 police officers and cadets of the Vučitrn Police Academy will be responsible for security in north Kosovo due to increased risks.

According to the plan, police officers will be securing all municipal ballot counting centers and transport of ballots.

EULEX and KFOR will help Kosovo police maintain peace, order and security.