Kosovo voters eye peace deal with Serbia in election

Voting booths opened in Kosovo on Sunday (October 6) in an election dominated by the issues of tackling corruption and a peace deal with Serbia, which could pave the way for United Nations membership.

This is the fourth time Kosovans have been sent to the polls since independence was declared in 2008.

The latest election was triggered after Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned in July when he was summoned to appear before a war crimes court.

Haradinaj has been questioned over his role in the 1998-99 war as one of the commanders of the former Kosovo Liberation Army who fought for independence from Serbia.

And it is relations with Serbia that are at the heart of this election.

Twenty years after NATO bombing expelled Serbian forces, Belgrade refuses to recognize Kosovo as independent.

In concert with its ally Russia, it has blocked Kosovo's membership of international organizations including the United Nations.

Negotiations were halted a year ago when the outgoing government imposed 100% tariffs on goods produced in Serbia.

Most, but not all, of the parties contesting the polls have said they will abolish the tariffs but introduce other retaliatory measures.

The United States and the European Union see tensions between Belgrade and Pristina as a major threat to regional stability and are pushing for a normalization of relations.