The New Nation - Internet Edition

Reuters, Pristina

Front-runner Hashim Thaci pledged independence for Kosovo on Saturday as the breakaway province voted for a new parliament ahead of a showdown with Serbia over its bid for statehood.

"These elections are not about Kosovo's status," the former guerrilla fighter said after casting his ballot. "We will declare independence immediately after December 10."

That is the date for a report by Russian, United States and European Union mediators on last-ditch talks in search of a compromise between Serbia and Kosovo's 90 percent ethnic Albanian majority.

There is still no glimmer of a deal, with two negotiating sessions set for Brussels and Vienna in the coming week.