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Kosovo election fraud suspicions undermine PM's victory claim

More ballots cast than people registered to vote at three polling stations in area loyal to Hashim Thaçi, says election commission source

Supporters of Kosovo's incumbent PM Hashim Thaçi celebrate victory in the first elections since independence Link to this video
The Kosovo prime minister's claim to have won the country's first elections since it declared independence were undermined today as evidence emerged of localised voter fraud in a region loyal to his party.
Hashim Thaçi's supporters celebrated what they said was a victory after exit polls suggested they were six percentage points ahead of their rivals.
The capital, Pristina, awoke to a blanket of snow and mounting questions over the outcome of the veracity of the poll. Official results of the count have been repeatedly delayed. The focus of concern was polling stations in Drenica, a region that serves as a solid base for Thaçi's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). Two municipalities – Skenderaj and Gllogovc – reported turnouts of 93.68% and 86.94% respectively, officials confirmed. A source from the election commission told the Guardian that in three polling stations in the area more ballot papers were cast than the number of people officially registered to vote. One had an official turnout of 149%.

The PDK's main rival, the Democratic League of Kosovo, has also claimed victory. It, along with most other opposition parties, is contesting the vote at some polling stations.
The German head of the European parliament's observation team, Doris Pack, said voting had been mostly encouraging but allegations of fraud were a concern. "Serious allegations of fraud in two municipalities have been brought to the attention of the delegation," she said. "The delegation encourages the political parties to follow proper legal procedures. Identified perpetrators should be prosecuted promptly in line with the law in order to curtail the culture of impunity."

Ardian Arifaj, an analyst at Pristina's Foreign Policy Club thinktank, which sent nine observers to Drenica for the vote, said localised fraud in Drenica could have been enough to swing the result in the PDK's favour. "We're talking fraud: people voting multiple times, intimidation, threats to monitors. These issued need to be addressed," he said.

Yesterday's elections were considered a crucial landmark for Kosovo, a fledgling democracy backed by western powers but strongly opposed by Serbia. The western-backed country became a UN protectorate after Nato bombing against Serb forces brought an end to the Kosovo war in 1999. It declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and an EU mission stayed to oversee law and order.
Diplomats are concerned that instability in Kosovo might jeopardise talks with Belgrade over future relations between the two countries.

Even if Thaçi's party emerges the victor, there is confusion over how he will form a government. Several opposition parties have said they will refuse to enter into a coalition with the PDK. Analysts say one possible outcome could be a deal between Thaçi, a former leader with the guerilla Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), and the party believed to have come fourth, Alliance for the Future of Kosovo.

The party is led by Ramush Haradinaj, another rebel commander whose brief reign as prime minister came to an end when he was charged with war crimes at the UN tribunal in The Hague. Haradinaj's retrial in the war crimes court is expected to begin in the new year.