Pristina, Serbia News

Nationalist candidate Tomislav Nikolic has won the Serbian presidency, which could hamper his country's bid to join the European Union.

A Turkish doctor at the centre of organ trafficking allegations has sent his lawyer to the court in Pristina to offer his cooperation in the Medicus case.

Kosovo's Government is planning to open an Administrative Office in the north of Mitrovica, with a staff of 80 people.

Eamon Gilmore, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister, welcomed the successful completion of voting in Kosovo in the second round of the Serbian presidential election.

Serbian political parties are expected to start negotiations on the formation of a new government on Monday after the surprise win of nationalist Tomislav Nikolic in presidential polls.

Nonetheless, due to the large diplomatic presence in the region , we do not believe it likely that lingering disputes will devolve into open conflict.

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Special Representative Zarif for your briefing.

The European Union will take into account Boris Tadic's plan for Kosovo, if the Democratic Party forms the new government in Belgrade, the EU ambassador to Serbia said.

The overall situation on Sunday -- as Kosovo Serbs went to the polls to vote in presidential and general elections -- remained calm, although Kosovo Police, EULEX and KFOR increased their presence in the north and in some other areas in Kosovo, including Pristina.

Kosovo Serbs were heading to polling stations on Sunday morning, in the balloting facilitated by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe-OSCE Mission to Kosovo.

The pre-election silence lasts until Sunday, when people will vote for a new president as well as for national and provincial parliaments and local assemblies.

EU's rule-of-law mission in Kosovo, EULEX, has confirmed criminal indictments against the editor in chief and two columnists of the former Pristina-based newspaper Infopress, as well as the mayor of Skenderaj, Sami Lushtaku.

Mitrovica's mayor faces a number of challenges, security-and budget-related, and keeps a close eye on the situation.

"On Sunday, there will be voting in Kosovo in the Serbian parliamentary and presidential elections.

A Kosovo Albanian politician and close ally of Prime Minister Hashim Thaci was acquitted of war crimes on Wednesday after the case against him collapsed with the suicide of the central prosecution witness.

The EU enlargement commissioner says Brussels hopes political forces fully committed to EU integration and regional cooperation will win on May 6. Stefan Fule, European Enlargement Commissioner, on Monday said he hoped forces fully committed to European integration and regional cooperation would win on Sunday.

Hashim Thaci's government has greeted the OSCE's decision to facilitate Serbian elections in Kosovo, as it means that Serbia itself will not be be playing any role in the voting.

As Kosovo Police step up measures to stop Serbia's May 6 elections from being extended to Kosovo, they have detained another local Serbian activist.