Serbian people

Norway's ambassador to Kosovo, Jan Braathu, on Friday urged Kosovo Serbs to vote on June 8 and elect true representatives to the Kosovo parliament.

"A boycott is not a good solution because a boycott also brings you representatives, but not your own representatives," Braathu told on debate held Friday entitled "Kosovo ahead of parliamentary elections".

"Despite campaign boycott, Serbs will participate"

BELGRADE, PRIŠTINA -- Despite the announced boycott of the election campaign, analyst Dušan Janjić expects the five Serbs lists to participate in early elections in Kosovo.

Heads of four municipalities in the Serb-run north of Kosovo on Wednesday quit activities related to June 8 general elections in Kosovo until the Election Commission meets their demands about the insignia on the ballots and the composition of polling committees.

BELGRADE - The Serbian government office for Kosovo stated on Friday that Serbs from Kosovo had joined the rescue operations in flooded areas in Serbia.

Fifty Serbs arrived from southern Kosovo and joined the rescue teams in Ub and Obrenovac, the worst hit areas, the statement says.

Members of the Belgrade-backed Srpska List have started discussions with other Serbian parties in Kosovo, fleshing out options on how to run together in the upcoming general elections on June 8.

Goran Rakic, from the Srpska list, who became mayor of North Mitrovica in the last local elections, told Balkan Insight that consultations with other Serbian parties were ongoing.

PRISTINA - Serb politicians in Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) have begun preparations for participation in the early parliamentary elections scheduled to take place in the province on June 8, despite being concerned about the very close deadline for registration and certification of candidates for members in the Kosovo assembly.

Kosovo Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic, held on suspicion of war crimes and murder during and after the 1990s conflict, appealed against a decision to extend his custody for two months.

BELGRADE - The Office for Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) condemned on Tuesday in the strongest terms the statement by Dardan Gasi, a representative of Pristina, who said that Christ the Savior Cathedral in that town would be pulled down.

GRACANICA - The Citizens' Initiative Srpska has condemned in the strongest of terms a statement by the Kosovo minister for spatial planning Dardan Gasi on demolition of the Orthodox church in Pristina.

The Serbian government and the political party of detained Kosovo Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic, who is accused of war crimes, have launched a petition demanding his release.