Polling Places Empty In Northern Kosovo As Ethnic Serbs Boycott Local Elections

 Local elections in four municipalities in Kosovo's north on Sunday see particularly low turnout as the region's predominantly ethnic Serb population is boycotting the vote as called for by the Serb List party, media reported.

Voters are set to elect new mayors in the municipalities of North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviq and new municipal councils in Zvecan and Leposaviq. The Serb List party, whose candidates previously were in majority in the municipalities' councils and executive bodies, called for boycotting the elections citing pressure and provocations from the Kosovo authorities and enjoyed far-reaching public support in this cause, the Kosovo Online news portal reported.

While over 45,000 people are eligible to vote in the north of Serbia's former region, whose independence Belgrade never recognized, just under 2% of them are ethnic Albanians, which further fuels expectations of extremely low turnout.