Serbs boycott Kosovo vote

PRISTINA, Serbia, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- A majority of Kosovo's Serbian minority have boycotted parliamentary elections, setting back efforts to resolve the Serbian province's future.

Preliminary election results for the election -- the second in the province since the United Nations took control five years ago -- indicated that turnout was particularly low in Serb-inhabited areas. Final results were not expected until Monday, the New York Times reported.

United Nations officials had described Serbian participation in the election as essential ahead of possible negotiations on the province's future next year. At issue is whether Kosovo remains part of Serbia or, as the majority of ethnic Albanians want, becomes independent.