Voting in Kosovo ends peacefully

PRISTINA, Kosovo – Kosovo’s first independent elections have ended peacefully, with the prime minister claiming his party won convincingly and some minority Serbs ignoring a call to boycott and casting ballots alongside ethnic Albanians.

The elections Sunday for city council and mayors in 36 municipalities were seen as a key test of the fledgling state’s viability following its contested February 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia.

Preliminary results were expected later today.

Hours after polls closed, Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci claimed his party won in 20 of the 36 municipalities.

“Today we gave freedom, independence and democracy its full meaning,” Thaci told his supporters.

The junior partner in the governing coalition claimed it won in several of Kosovo’s areas, including the capital Pristina, while opposition parties contested Thaci’s outright victory and urged waiting until final results come out.

Across Kosovo party sympathizers celebrated by honking their car horns, waving party flags and setting off fire crackers.

No major instances of unrest or fraud allegations were reported, though the run-up had been marred by tensions between rival ethnic Albanian parties, as well as a possible boycott from the Serb minority. Stones were thrown Wednesday at Thaci’s convoy, and there was an apparent assassination attempt Thursday on a mayoral candidate.