US calls for fraud probe on Kosovo poll

THE United States has welcomed the holding of the first elections in Kosovo since its 2008 declaration of independence, but urged authorities to address fraud accusations.

“The US urges the Kosovo elections commission to address the few serious irregularities that did occur,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

Prime Minister Hasim Thaci has claimed victory in the vote, Kosovo’s first since independence. But he is not thought likely to win the election outright.

According to early results, Thaci’s Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) gained almost 31%, a few points ahead of his main rival and ex-junior coalition partner, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).

The LDK has called for re-runs, arguing that voting was compromised in two of Hasim Thaci’s strongholds, where an unlikely 95% turnout was recorded.

Toner said he also regretted “the atmosphere of threats, intimidation and violence from Serbian sources directed for weeks against Kosovo Serbs in northern Kosovo clearly prevented many there from exercising their democratic rights”.

But he added Sunday’s polls were largely “efficient and effective”.

Monitors from the European parliament said there were “serious allegations of fraud” and the US ambassador said he had witnessed ballot stuffing.