Kosovan president to stay in office despite lung cancer

KOSOVAN President Ibrahim Rugova, linked for decades to the ethnic Albanian majority’s anti-Serb struggle, said yesterday he has lung cancer, but he pledged to stay in office as the UN-run province nears crucial talks on its future.

Mr Rugova, 61, said in a televised speech that he would continue to work toward his lifelong goal of Kosovo’s independence from Serbian domination, which ended only six years ago when fighting against Serb troops ended and NATO and the United Nations assumed control of the province.

“We will continue to work even harder for the recognition of Kosovo’s independence,” Mr Rugova said.