Voting centres opened in Kosovo on Sunday for national elections where the main issues for the country's 1.9 million eligible voters are tackling corruption and a peace deal with Serbia which would pave the way for United Nations membership.

The elections, the fourth since Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008, were called after Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned in July when he was summoned to appear before a war crimes court.

Haradinaj has been questioned over his role in the 1998-99 war as one of the commanders of the former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) who fought for independence from Serbia.

"Voting was very easy but let’s see what our votes will bring,” said taxi driver Avdi Morina, 46, after voting in a sport hall in the capital Pristina.

"We want well-being and jobs for young people,” retired doctor Muharrem Bajrami said after casting his vote in the capital.

Opinion polls have pointed to public dissatisfaction with Haradinaj's record at the head of a three-party governing coalition which has boosted support for opposition parties.

Two of those parties, the Democratic League for Kosovo (LDK) and the nationalist, left-leaning Vetevendosje, are seen as front runners in Sunday's vote, along with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the largest party in the current coalition.

Arton Demhasaj, from the Cohu (Wake up) think tank in Pristina said the first task of the new government would be to restart negotiations with Serbia.

"The next government will be the government of the dialogue, from the first day to the last day, and only when the dialogue is over then we will have to deal with real issues such as corruption, education and the economy," Demhasaj told Reuters.

Negotiations were halted a year ago when the outgoing government imposed 100% tariffs on goods produced in Serbia. Most, but not all, of the parties contesting the polls have said that they will abolish the tariffs but will introduce other retaliatory measures against Serbia.

The United States and the European Union see tensions between Belgrade and Pristina as a major threat to regional stability and are pushing for a normalisation of relations.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump appointed Richard Grenell, the straight-talking US ambassador to Germany, as special envoy to try to inject new energy into the talks between Belgrade and Pristina.

Twenty years after NATO bombing expelled Serbian forces, Belgrade refuses to recognise Kosovo as independent and, in concert with its ally Russia, has blocked Pristina's membership of international organisations including the United Nations.

In 2013, Pristina and Belgrade agreed to an EU-mediated dialogue to normalise ties but little progress has been made.

Last year, Kosovan President Hashim Thaci and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic signalled that they might agree to a land swap but they faced strong opposition to the idea domestically and abroad.

In Kosovo, all three parties LDK, Vetevendosje and PDK said the land swap was not acceptable.

EUROPE'S YOUNGEST POPULATION

Kosovo has Europe's youngest population, with an average age of 29, and has seen annual economic growth averaging 4% over the past decade, but it remains poor. Since Pristina won independence from Belgrade in 2008, more than 200,000 Kosovars have emigrated and applied for asylum in the European Union.

"It hurts me when I see young, educated people from Kosovo coming to Germany because they don't see a better future here," said Skender Nekaj, 44, who came from Germany to Kosovo to vote together with seven other family members.

The public sector is the biggest employer in the country but job applicants typically need political connections or to pay a bribe to find a job.

The European Union says corruption is "widespread" and Transparency International ranks Kosovo as a very corrupt country.

"If you have money you can buy justice here, if you have money you can buy health because you go to a private clinic. I don't have money. My vote is the only thing I have," said Qendrim Agushi, 32, a construction worker who earns 13 euros a day.

The election will be overseen by more than 34,000 monitors including 100 from the European Union.

Polls open at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and close at 7 p.m. (1700 GMT). Preliminary official results are expected by midnight (2200 GMT).

Voting centres opened in Kosovo on Sunday for national elections where the main issues for the country's 1.9 million eligible voters are tackling corruption and a peace deal with Serbia which would pave the way for United Nations membership.

Voting centres opened in Kosovo on Sunday for national elections where the main issues for the country's 1.9 million eligible voters are tackling corruption and a peace deal with Serbia which would pave the way for United Nations membership. The elections, the fourth since Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008, were called after Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned in July when he was summoned to appear before a war crimes court. Haradinaj has been questioned over his role in the 1998-99 war as one of the commanders of the former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) who fought for independence from Serbia. "Voting was very easy but let’s see what our votes will bring,” said taxi driver Avdi Morina, 46, after voting in a sport hall in the capital Pristina. "We want well-being and jobs for young people,” retired doctor Muharrem Bajrami said after casting his vote in the capital. Opinion polls have pointed to public dissatisfaction with Haradinaj's record at the head of a three-party governing coalition which has boosted support for opposition parties. Two of those parties, the Democratic League for Kosovo (LDK) and the nationalist, left-leaning Vetevendosje, are seen as front runners in Sunday's vote, along with the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), the largest party in the current coalition. Arton Demhasaj, from the Cohu (Wake up) think tank in Pristina said the first task of the new government would be to restart negotiations with Serbia. "The next government will be the government of the dialogue, from the first day to the last day, and only when the dialogue is over then we will have to deal with real issues such as corruption, education and the economy," Demhasaj told Reuters. Negotiations were halted a year ago when the outgoing government imposed 100% tariffs on goods produced in Serbia. Most, but not all, of the parties contesting the polls have said that they will abolish the tariffs but will introduce other retaliatory measures against Serbia. The United States and the European Union see tensions between Belgrade and Pristina as a major threat to regional stability and are pushing for a normalisation of relations. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump appointed Richard Grenell, the straight-talking US ambassador to Germany, as special envoy to try to inject new energy into the talks between Belgrade and Pristina. Twenty years after NATO bombing expelled Serbian forces, Belgrade refuses to recognise Kosovo as independent and, in concert with its ally Russia, has blocked Pristina's membership of international organisations including the United Nations. In 2013, Pristina and Belgrade agreed to an EU-mediated dialogue to normalise ties but little progress has been made. Last year, Kosovan President Hashim Thaci and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic signalled that they might agree to a land swap but they faced strong opposition to the idea domestically and abroad. In Kosovo, all three parties LDK, Vetevendosje and PDK said the land swap was not acceptable. EUROPE'S YOUNGEST POPULATION Kosovo has Europe's youngest population, with an average age of 29, and has seen annual economic growth averaging 4% over the past decade, but it remains poor. Since Pristina won independence from Belgrade in 2008, more than 200,000 Kosovars have emigrated and applied for asylum in the European Union. "It hurts me when I see young, educated people from Kosovo coming to Germany because they don't see a better future here," said Skender Nekaj, 44, who came from Germany to Kosovo to vote together with seven other family members. The public sector is the biggest employer in the country but job applicants typically need political connections or to pay a bribe to find a job. The European Union says corruption is "widespread" and Transparency International ranks Kosovo as a very corrupt country. "If you have money you can buy justice here, if you have money you can buy health because you go to a private clinic. I don't have money. My vote is the only thing I have," said Qendrim Agushi, 32, a construction worker who earns 13 euros a day. The election will be overseen by more than 34,000 monitors including 100 from the European Union. Polls open at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) and close at 7 p.m. (1700 GMT). Preliminary official results are expected by midnight (2200 GMT).

Kosovo voters focus on graft, Serbia peace deal in election

International prosecutors questioned Kosovo's ex-prime minister and wartime guerrilla commander Ramush Haradinaj on Wednesday in the latest in a series of war crimes proceedings against him.

Haradinaj left the hearing at the special court for Kosovo in The Hague along with Jakup Krasniqi, a spokesman for his former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), who was also questioned.

"I responded today to the special tribunal's request, as a suspect," Haradinaj told reporters outside the special court's high-security buildings.

"I used my right to remain silent," he said.

Haradinaj was the commander of the ethnic Albanian guerrillas in the Western Kosovo region of Dukagjin, where heavy fighting and abuse of civilians occurred on both sides during the war.&nbsp;

Observers in Kosovo say he could be held accountable for having failed to prevent crimes committed by KLA members under his command.

Haradinaj said prosecutors did not confront him with "concrete" evidence on Wednesday, as they did not have to divulge any information at this stage according to the law.

"They talked about my role during the war, but they did not give me anything concrete... We asked for explanations but did not receive them," said the former guerrilla.

He said he believed "always to have been in line with what is right."

"We have fulfilled our legal obligation, according to the laws in force," Krasniqi told reporters. He did not say whether he was questioned as a suspect or a witness.

Haradinaj, 51, resigned last week as prime minister after being summoned by the court.

Freedom fighter 
Created in 2015, the tribunal investigates crimes allegedly committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) against Serbs, Roma and ethnic Albanian political opponents during and after the 1998-99 war.

Funded by the European Union and composed of international judges, the special court nonetheless falls under Kosovar law and is based in The Hague to protect witnesses.&nbsp;

Haradinaj has already been tried and acquitted twice for war crimes by another UN tribunal for former Yugoslavia.

"I always responded to (requirements) of national and international laws (but)... I also have my dignity", Haradinaj told AFP in January.

The last conflict in the former Yugoslavia between the KLA and Serbian armed forces claimed more than 13,000 lives, including some 11,000 ethnic Albanians.

It ended when a Western bombing campaign forced Serbian forces to withdraw.

Two decades later Belgrade still does not recognise its former province's independence.

Some thirty former KLA members have been summoned by the special court which has yet to file a single criminal charge. &nbsp;

"Freedom fighters always do what is right and just," Haradinaj wrote on Facebook.

International prosecutors questioned Kosovo's ex-prime minister and wartime guerrilla commander Ramush Haradinaj on Wednesday in the latest in a series of war crimes proceedings against him.

International prosecutors questioned Kosovo's ex-prime minister and wartime guerrilla commander Ramush Haradinaj on Wednesday in the latest in a series of war crimes proceedings against him. Haradinaj left the hearing at the special court for Kosovo in The Hague along with Jakup Krasniqi, a spokesman for his former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), who was also questioned. "I responded today to the special tribunal's request, as a suspect," Haradinaj told reporters outside the special court's high-security buildings. "I used my right to remain silent," he said. Haradinaj was the commander of the ethnic Albanian guerrillas in the Western Kosovo region of Dukagjin, where heavy fighting and abuse of civilians occurred on both sides during the war. Observers in Kosovo say he could be held accountable for having failed to prevent crimes committed by KLA members under his command. Haradinaj said prosecutors did not confront him with "concrete" evidence on Wednesday, as they did not have to divulge any information at this stage according to the law. "They talked about my role during the war, but they did not give me anything concrete... We asked for explanations but did not receive them," said the former guerrilla. He said he believed "always to have been in line with what is right." "We have fulfilled our legal obligation, according to the laws in force," Krasniqi told reporters. He did not say whether he was questioned as a suspect or a witness. Haradinaj, 51, resigned last week as prime minister after being summoned by the court. Freedom fighter Created in 2015, the tribunal investigates crimes allegedly committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) against Serbs, Roma and ethnic Albanian political opponents during and after the 1998-99 war. Funded by the European Union and composed of international judges, the special court nonetheless falls under Kosovar law and is based in The Hague to protect witnesses. Haradinaj has already been tried and acquitted twice for war crimes by another UN tribunal for former Yugoslavia. "I always responded to (requirements) of national and international laws (but)... I also have my dignity", Haradinaj told AFP in January. The last conflict in the former Yugoslavia between the KLA and Serbian armed forces claimed more than 13,000 lives, including some 11,000 ethnic Albanians. It ended when a Western bombing campaign forced Serbian forces to withdraw. Two decades later Belgrade still does not recognise its former province's independence. Some thirty former KLA members have been summoned by the special court which has yet to file a single criminal charge. "Freedom fighters always do what is right and just," Haradinaj wrote on Facebook.

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj questioned at war crimes court

Kosovo's Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said on Friday (July 19) he was resigning because he had been called to a war crimes court in The Hague to answer questions from prosecutors related to Kosovo's violent independence struggle.

Kosovo's PM quits after being called to Hague war crimes court

Serbia&nbsp;ordered its security forces on full alert on Tuesday after police in neighbouring Kosovo mounted an anti-smuggling operation in a northern region of the country populated mainly by Serbs.

The move came amid rising tension in four Serb-populated municipalities in Kosovo's north, which remains largely outside the control of Pristina and pledges allegiance to Belgrade.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Monday acknowledged Belgrade had lost control over Kosovo, its former southern province, but warned it would react if Kosovo attacked Serbs there.

In the Kosovan operation, police arrested dozens of officers on Tuesday, including ethnic Serbs, accused of smuggling goods into the country. They said police had faced "armed resistance" and one policeman was wounded.

Serbian state RTS TV reported two Serbs were also wounded during the police action.

Belgrade saw the action as an attempt by Pristina authorities to take control of northern parts of Kosovo which border&nbsp;Serbia, and&nbsp;Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic placed special police units under alert.

The head of&nbsp;Serbia's Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, said Kosovo police "armed to their teeth" raided four Serb municipalities in the north.

"They did it with an aim to intimidate and if possible to sow panic...to create an impossible climate for Serbs in Kosovo," Djuric said in a broadcast on&nbsp;Serbia's RTS TV.

Emergency sirens sounded in the Serb part of Mitrovica and people gathered in the town's main square but no incidents occurred, witnesses said.

Kosovo police said their investigation had been launched months ago. The operation also took place in other parts of the country.

"I confirm that the operation is about law enforcement and nothing else. I call Serbs in the north to stay calm and respect the law," Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said.

Majority-Albanian Kosovo declared independence in 2008, almost a decade after NATO air strikes wrested control of the territory away from Belgrade to end a counter-insurgency campaign by&nbsp;Serbian security forces.

But&nbsp;Serbia, which under its constitution considers Kosovo an integral part of its territory, has been blocking Kosovo from membership of international institutions including Interpol and UNESCO. It also still provides financial aid to Serbs in Kosovo.

Smuggling is rampant in the area and it further increased since Kosovo last November introduced 100 per cent tariffs on goods from&nbsp;Serbia.

Serbia ordered its security forces on full alert on Tuesday after police in neighbouring Kosovo mounted an anti-smuggling operation in a northern region of the country populated mainly by Serbs.

Serbia ordered its security forces on full alert on Tuesday after police in neighbouring Kosovo mounted an anti-smuggling operation in a northern region of the country populated mainly by Serbs. The move came amid rising tension in four Serb-populated municipalities in Kosovo's north, which remains largely outside the control of Pristina and pledges allegiance to Belgrade. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on Monday acknowledged Belgrade had lost control over Kosovo, its former southern province, but warned it would react if Kosovo attacked Serbs there. In the Kosovan operation, police arrested dozens of officers on Tuesday, including ethnic Serbs, accused of smuggling goods into the country. They said police had faced "armed resistance" and one policeman was wounded. Serbian state RTS TV reported two Serbs were also wounded during the police action. Belgrade saw the action as an attempt by Pristina authorities to take control of northern parts of Kosovo which border Serbia, and Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic placed special police units under alert. The head of Serbia's Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, said Kosovo police "armed to their teeth" raided four Serb municipalities in the north. "They did it with an aim to intimidate and if possible to sow panic...to create an impossible climate for Serbs in Kosovo," Djuric said in a broadcast on Serbia's RTS TV. Emergency sirens sounded in the Serb part of Mitrovica and people gathered in the town's main square but no incidents occurred, witnesses said. Kosovo police said their investigation had been launched months ago. The operation also took place in other parts of the country. "I confirm that the operation is about law enforcement and nothing else. I call Serbs in the north to stay calm and respect the law," Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said. Majority-Albanian Kosovo declared independence in 2008, almost a decade after NATO air strikes wrested control of the territory away from Belgrade to end a counter-insurgency campaign by Serbian security forces. But Serbia, which under its constitution considers Kosovo an integral part of its territory, has been blocking Kosovo from membership of international institutions including Interpol and UNESCO. It also still provides financial aid to Serbs in Kosovo. Smuggling is rampant in the area and it further increased since Kosovo last November introduced 100 per cent tariffs on goods from Serbia.

Serbia puts forces on alert after Kosovo police operation in Serb-populated north

Kosovo&#39;s former prime minister Ramush Haradinaj was arrested by the French police on an arrest warrant by Serbia, Reuters reported.

Kosovo&#39;s government has criticised the move and is trying to resolve the issue.

Ramush Haradinaj is now an opposition leader.

Serbia considers Haradinaj a war criminal for leading a guerrila movement in its southern province of Kosovo.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008.

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Kosovo's government has said it is trying to resolve the issue

Kosovo's former prime minister Ramush Haradinaj was arrested by the French police on an arrest warrant by Serbia, Reuters reported. Kosovo's government has criticised the move and is trying to resolve the issue. Ramush Haradinaj is now an opposition leader. Serbia considers Haradinaj a war criminal for leading a guerrila movement in its southern province of Kosovo. Kosovo declared independence in 2008. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Former Kosovo Prime Minister arrested in France