Kosovo 's Prime Minister Wins Elections

(Vatican Radio) Former rebel leader Hashim Thaci has claimed a third term as prime minister of Kosovo after official preliminary results gave him the lead in early parliamentary that also saw minority Serbs freely casting votes for the first time.  Thaci's victory came despite concerns over his alleged involvement in war crimes and deep economic difficulties.

Listen to the report by correspondent Stefan Bos:

 

With most votes counted, official preliminary results gave his Democratic Party of Kosovo a lead of just three percentage points over the opposition Democratic League of Kosovo.

The hardline ethnic Albanian Self-determination movement was in third place, it's best showing ever in a general election.

In his victory speech, the 46-year-old Thaci, who oversaw oversaw Kosovo's Western-backed declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008, pledged to follow the will of the people.

Sunday's election was called after the 120-seat parliament became deadlocked over key issues,

including formation of Kosovo's armed forces. 

MINORITY SERBS

For the first time since independence minority Serbs in north freely participated in the ballot after Belgrade withdrew its opposition.  

Yet it remains unclear whether the former rebel leader-turned prime minister will be able to finish his third term of this predominantly ethnic Albanian state.

A Council of Europe report has linked Thaci and four high-ranking members of his ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) to the sale of organs removed from Serb prisoners during the 1998-1999 Kosovo war for independence from Serbia.

Findings of a special European Union-appointed task force investigating the allegations are expected within weeks.

And the elections have done little to ease the pain of survivors of the war which left 10,000 people.

FAMILY KILLED

Valbona Bogujevci told Dutch NOS television that she remembers how many family members were killed behind her home by Serb forces. 

"My uncle's wife with her two daughters in law and eight children, the oldest was 15, the youngest was five.

And my aunt and her mother in law were killed. I was not there but I heard the shooting," she recalled. 

And with 35 percent unemployment and high level corruption Kosovo has a rocky road ahead, explained

Bogujevci who also works for the United Nations in the area.       

"Basically we started with zero in 1999. And with the large support of the international community the country manage to develop. But I think it still has a very long way to go," added Bogujevci, who is now married and has children.  

Sunday's elections were seen as a key test for both Kosovo and neighboring Serbia, as both seek to mend

ties at a time when they want to join the European Union. Some 100 countries have recognized Kosovo's independence, including the United States and most EU nations, but not Serbia, Russia and China.