Some 5,000 Kosovars took to the streets on Wednesday amid mounting tensions about an agreed UN-Serbia plan to deploy a European mission in the disputed Balkan territory.

`UN Proposes War,` read one of the large white banners brandished by the demonstrators in downtown Pristina, reflecting Kosovo Albanians` anger about intentions to implement the plan within weeks.

PRISTINA, Serbia, Nov 18, 2007 (AFP) - Former Kosovo guerilla leader Hashim Thaci, whose party favours speedy independence, claimed victory Sunday in crucial parliamentary elections.

'I thank all of those who helped our victory and the victory of Kosovo,' Thaci told a celebration of his Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), which an unofficial tally showed had won 35 percent of the vote.

PRISTINA, Serbia, Nov 17, 2007 (AFP) - A party dominated by former Kosovo guerrillas who favour speedy independence was leading in parliamentary elections Saturday ahead of crucial talks on the status of the Serbian province.

The opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) of Hashim Thaci had 35 percent of the vote, according to preliminary unofficial results based on a count of 50 percent of ballots.

PRISTINA, Serbia, Nov 17, 2007 (AFP) - Kosovo voters braved icy weather and fears of renewed violence on Saturday to elect a government the majority Albanians hope will lead the troubled Serbian province to independence.

The elections were held eight years after Kosovo's war and less than a month before the end of international talks on its future status.

Massively boycotted by Serbs fiercely opposed to independence, they were tipped to be dominated by parties representing Albanians who are impatient for statehood.

PRISTINA, Serbia, Nov 17, 2007 (AFP) - Polling ended Saturday in crucial Kosovo elections to elect a government majority that Albanians hope will lead the troubled Serbian province to independence.

After more than 12 hours of voting, booths were officially shut at 7:00 pm (1800 GMT), but some remained open to accommodate queuing voters, Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) spokesman Sven Lindolm told AFP.

PRISTINA, Serbia, Nov 17, 2007 (AFP) - Kosovo voters braved icy weather and fears of renewed violence on Saturday to elect a government the majority Albanians hope will lead the troubled Serbian province to independence.

'These elections will be an additional verdict towards our destiny' of independence, Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu said after voting in central Pristina.

'Kosovo is entering into a new phase of its democracy and status,' said the leader of the ruling Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK).

PRISTINA, Serbia, Nov 17, 2007 (AFP) - A steady flow of Kosovo Albanian voters streamed into polling stations in a snow-coated Pristina on Saturday, from young families to smartly dressed elderly couples.

The icy conditions outside contrasted with the warm, festive atmosphere inside schools and universities turned into temporary polling stations.

'It's our duty as citizens to vote,' said 68-year-old Dilshat Bytygi, his breath visible in the cold air outside a school in central Pristina.

PRISTINA, Serbia, Nov 17, 2007 (AFP) - Kosovo began voting Saturday to elect a government that would lead the troubled province to independence as demanded by majority Albanians but fiercely resisted by Serbs.

The first voters began casting ballots in the provincial capital Pristina shortly after up to 2,350 polling booths opened around the province at 7:00 am (0600 GMT) for 12 hours of voting, Radio Kosova reported.

PRISTINA, Serbia, Nov 17, 2007 (AFP) - Polling stations opened in Kosovo Saturday in a vote to elect a government that would lead the Serbian province to independence as sought by majority Albanians but resisted by Serbs.

The first voters began casting ballots in the provincial capital Pristina shortly after up to 2,350 polling booths opened around the province at 7:00 am (0600 GMT) for 12 hours of voting, Radio Kosova reported.

PRISTINA, Serbia, Nov 17, 2007 (AFP) - A tense Kosovo votes Saturday for a government that would lead the troubled Serbian province to independence as demanded by majority Albanians but bitterly opposed by Serbs.

NATO's 16,000-strong KFOR troops were bolstered by hundreds of reinforcements before the elections, in which 1.5 million voters are casting ballots for a new parliament, mayors and local councillors.