Report: Kosovo prosecutor investigates election fraud allegations

Dec 18, 2010, 10:19 GMT

Pristina - Kosovo's public prosecutor has begun an investigation into the allegations of fraud which marred last weekend's parliamentary election, the daily Koha Ditore reported Saturday.

Investigators were collecting information in seven major cities after being asked by the country's electoral commission, public prosecutor Ismet Kabashi said.

Several opposition parties have accused Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's Democratic Party (PDK) of rigging the polls and have demanded fresh elections.

'More than 25 per cent of electoral districts have shown evidence of irregularities and manipulation', media quoted the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK), which came fourth in the election, as saying.

'That's why the AAK is demanding a repetition of the process in the whole of Kosovo.'

Vetevendosje, which came third, has also criticised the electoral commission's decision to have a fresh poll in five municipalities - claiming it was not enough given alleged fraud in other towns.

The Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) has meanwhile declared its intention to challenge the results of the election in the country's top court.

There had been 'countless irregularities' in many towns, the party leader Isa Mustafa was cited as saying on Saturday.

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