Initiative for Kosovo

Kosovo Assembly President Kadri Veseli says it is clear that "the special court" is detrimental to Kosovo.

Veseli, who is the leader of the DPK party - led until his election as president by Hashim Thaci - was referring to the Specialist Chambers, set up to deal with the crimes committed by the former KLA.

The Basic Court of Pristina on Friday acquitted Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Fatmir Limaj, Endrit Shala, Shpetim Telaki, Nexhat Krasniqi and Florim Zuka of organised crime, abuse of official position and authority and accepting bribes.

As Kosovo waits for official results from Sunday's local elections, some 17 municipalities already seem set for runoffs, according to preliminary data from local NGO Democracy in Action (DIA), which monitored the process. 

Kosovo Liberation Army ex-fighter Xhemshit Krasniqi, who was convicted of abuse and torture at detention camps in Kosovo and Albania, had his prison sentence reduced on appeal to seven years.

The Kosovo Assembly is scheduled to resume early in August, after President Hashim Thaci set an August 3 date for the constituent session.

However, it remains to be seen which coalition or political party will be able to form a majority and form the government.

PRISTINA - The Kosovo-Metohija central election committee on Thursday announced the final results of the June 11 elections for the Kosovo assembly.

The DPK-ABK-NISMA coalition has 39 seats, the Self-Determination movement has 32 seats, while the coalition of the DSK, the New Kosovo Alliance and the Alternative Initiative has 29.

Tanjug file photo, J. Pap

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.

Who will form the new government in Kosovo remains unclear, after the results of the 11 June elections failed to grant immediate power to any one political entity or coalition.

According to election observer group Democracy in Action, DnV, with 87.31 per cent of the polling stations counted, the grand coalition headed by the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK, and the Initiative for Kosovo, NISMA, is leading with 33 per cent of votes.

The coalition of three parties - the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, AAK, and the Initiative for Kosovo, NISMA, is being predicted to win the most votes in Sunday's elections, but not enough to establish an administration.