(8 Jun 2014) Kosovo's citizens have voted in an early parliamentary election on Sunday viewed as test of EU efforts to stabilise the Balkans.
Some 1.7 million voters were expected to cast ballots with former Prime Minister Hashim Thaci bidding for a third term.
He urged people to take part in the elections and expressed the hope that it will "send a message to Europe that we are a democratic country".
According to Agron Bajrami, the chief editor of local newspaper Koha Ditore, the economy and high unemployment are at the top of the voters' agenda.
Serb participation in the vote is crucial for EU-brokered talks to help Kosovo normalise relations with Serbia.
Serbia had rejected Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence, but signed an agreement with Kosovo last year to help advance its EU membership bid.
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