(12 Dec 2010)
++NIGHT SHOTS++
Pristina
1. Wide of polling station
2. Electoral official empties ballot box onto table
3. Various of electoral officials counting ballots
4. SOUNDBITE: (Albanian) Kumrije Sahiti, electoral official:
"There have been no problems today. Some 60 percent of the voters have cast their ballots."
5. Close of bar graph on television showing early exit poll results
6. Kosovo prime minister Hashim Thaci watching unofficial vote tally on TV
7. Thaci holding his thumb up in trademark political gesture
8. Close of exit poll on TV screen
9. SOUNDBITE: (Albanian) Hashim Thaci, Kosovo Prime Minister:
"This is a vote for a European Kosovo. It is a referendum for good governance. It's a vote for a Euro-Atlantic Kosovo. A vote for democratic reforms. It's a vote for visa liberalisations, it's a vote for good governance."
Pristina
10. Various of people voting
11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Besim Rraci, ethnic Albanian voter:
"I'm waiting for the economical development of Kosovo and also for a better life of people who live here and liberalisation of visas, and to be part of Europe."
Gracanica
12. Exterior of polling station with voters
13. Mid of Kosovo Serb politician Rada Trajkovic casting ballot
14. Cutaway of polling station sign
15. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Rada Trajkovic, Kosovo Serb politician:
"I belong to those that believe that Kosovo is one territory and the Serbs in the north will have to join at some point in time a mutual voting process. I deeply believe that the institutional links of the north with Pristina do not have to happen because of the Albanians and the institutions in Pristina, but have to happen because of the Serbs living south of the river Ibar."
Pristina
16. Exterior of NATO headquarters, soldiers at entrance
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Captain Hannes Wichtler, KFOR spokesman:
"There was obviously some destruction, some window panes broken, some shots against the wall and then a letter was found and we, together with the police, are investigating this incident so far."
18. Mid of officer with NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo, known as KFOR
STORYLINE:
Polls closed on Sunday evening in Kosovo's first general elections since it declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a critical election already marred by ethnic tension that many fear will split the world's newest country.
One independent exit poll showed Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo in the lead.
The poll conducted by Kosovo-based Gani Bobi Centre showed Thaci's party six percent ahead of former coalition partners Democratic League of Kosovo, giving Thaci the upper hand in forming a government.
"This is a vote for a European Kosovo. It is a referendum for good governance. It's a vote for a Euro-Atlantic Kosovo. A vote for democratic reforms. It's a vote for visa liberalisations, it's a vote for good governance," Thaci said as he watched election coverage on TV.
According to the early poll, Thaci won 31 percent, with the LDK, or Democratic League of Kosovo, trailing with 25 percent of
the vote and newcomer Albin Kurti winning 17 percent in his political debut.
Kurti advocates Kosovo's unification with Albania and opposes any talks with Serbia.
Official results are expected on Monday.
Some 1.6 (m) million voters were eligible to choose from a list of 29 political parties, coalitions and citizen's initiatives to enter Kosovo's 120-seat parliament. Ten of those seats were reserved for minority Serbs, some of whom are running in the poll.
Around 34 percent of registered voters cast their ballot at least three hours before polls closed.
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