Democratic League of Kosovo

Following a crunch meeting with Isa Mustafa, acting Prime Minister and leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, Kosovo New Alliance chief Behgjet Pacolli announced that his party's alliance with the LDK was now over.

"We have concluded all the contractual obligations we have had with LDK. Our ways now are parted," Pacolli told journalists.

Their formal importance stems from Kosovo's constitutional and legal system, which guarantees their representation through reserved seats in parliament and the cabinet.

Functionally, however, this power is trivial, owing to the lack of legitimacy of the Serbs' elected representatives, plus the lack of any clear idea about what constitutes the Serbian interest in the country.

Vetevendosje and the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, resumed their talks on Monday in a bid to reach a coalition agreement in Kosovo - which still has no government.

However, many question whether the two old rivals can clear away all the animosities from the past.

In a bid to repeat the success it had in the June general elections, when it came in second place, Kosovo's opposition Vetevendosje movement has announced the names of its mayoral candidates for several towns in the October local elections.

Kosovo's parliament failed again on Thursday to vote for a new parliamentary speaker after another boycott by PAN, a coalition made up of the Kosovo Democratic Party, PDK, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK and the Initiative for Kosovo, NISMA.

Kosovo's parliament did not continue its constitutive session on Friday because it was again boycotted by PAN - a coalition made up of the Kosovo Democratic Party, PDK, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK and the Initiative for Kosovo, NISMA.

After winning nine seats in parliament in Kosovo in the recent general election, Lista Srpska, the main coalition representing the Serbian community, has yet to decide which party or coalition to support in forming the new goverment.

Kosovo prime ministerial candidate Ramush Haradinaj from the coalition between the Kosovo Democratic Party, PDK, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK and the Initiative for Kosovo, NISMA, planned to hold consultative meetings with political groups on Tuesday in a bid to create a new administration, but he could only meet the representatives of non-Serb ethnic minorities.

Kosovo's opposition Vetevendosje party may prove a strong contender in the municipal elections set for October 22, after the general elections this June showed a surprising spike in its popularity.

The chances of the Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, forming a new coalition government with Vetevendosje appeared to recede on Tuesday night after the LDK said his party would want the post of Prime Minister.