Kosovo Serbs vote against Pristina's rule

Feb 15, 2012, 19:24 GMT

Belgrade - Serbs in Kosovo voted Wednesday in a two-day referendum in which they aimed to assert their resistance to Pristina's authority over their enclave, and also their defiance of the West and Belgrade.

The turnout among the 35,500 voters in the four municipalities that are dominated by Serbs in mainly Albanian Kosovo was between 53 per cent and 64 per cent three hours before polling ended at 7 pm (1800 GMT).

The result is expected later this week and is likely to be nearly 100-per-cent support for the rejection of Pristina's authority over the Serb enclave.

The referendum was organized despite criticism from the West and Belgrade, which said it was harmful to Serbia's national interests, most of all its ambition to begin moving towards European Union membership.

The referendum will have no legal effect, as it will not be recognized by the international community, Kosovo or even Belgrade.

Kosovo formally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Although the United States and most EU nations recognized it, Serbia continues to insist that Kosovo is still its province.

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