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December 4, 2008 10:41:41 AM CST

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New Ex-Reb Prime Minister Vows Kosovo Independence

Posted Nov 18, 07 5:54 AM CST in World 

(Newser) – A one-time rebel leader promising independence from Serbia surged to victory in yesterday's parliamentary elections in Kosovo. Prime Minister-elect Hashim Thaci, formerly a head of the Kosovo Liberation Army, vowed as he cast his ballot that he will declare Kosovo independent "immediately" if United Nations mediation fails to deliver independence by Dec. 10, reports the Los Angeles Times.

With most ballots counted, Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo led with 35% of the vote, with the closest rival trailing at 22%. "Tonight the clock has turned" toward an independent Kosovo, Thaci proclaimed. Talks have long been deadlocked between Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority and Serbian government officials who say they'll never recognize an independent Kosovo.

Sources Los Angeles Times, BBC

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Former rebel leader turned politician Hashim Thaci, gives the thumbs up in a sign of victory after he declared himself winner, based on unofficial preliminary results, in parliamentary elections in the...   (Associated Press)
Former rebel leader turned politician Hashim Thaci joined by his wife Lumnije, (left), casts his ballot in Kosovo elections Saturday, Nov . 17, 2007. Recent polls show Thaci's Party of Democratic Kosovo...   (Associated Press)
Former rebel leader turned politician Hashim Thaci casts his ballot in Kosovo elections Saturday, Nov . 17, 2007. Recent polls show Thaci's Party of Democratic Kosovo to be the likely winner of the vote,...   (Associated Press)
Kosovo Albanians walks past an election posters of Hashim Thaci of the Democratic Party of Kosovo in Kosovo's capital Pristina on Friday, Nov. 16, 2007. Kosovo's voters, who will choose a new parliament...   (Associated Press)
Former rebel leader turned politician Hashim Thaci, shows thumbs up in sign of victory to a crowd of supporters after he declared himself winner, based on unofficial preliminary results, in parliamentary...   (Associated Press)
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election • Serbia • Kosovo • Kosovar independence • Balkans • ethnic conflict • Hashim Thaci


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