Kosovo Parties Agree On Coalition Government

Balloting in last month's elections 17 November 2004 -- Kosovo's dominant party said today it has reached an agreement with a smaller party to form a coalition government following October elections in the U.N.-administered province.

A spokesman, Lulzim Zeneli, said the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), led by Kosovo's current President Ibrahim Rugova, will form a coalition with the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) of former rebel leader Ramush Haradinaj. Two smaller groups will also join the coalition.

Under the deal, Haradinaj is expected to become prime minister. Rugova would take the post of president for a second time.

The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), Kosovo's second-largest ethnic Albanian party, led by former rebel leader Hashim Thaci, would go into opposition.

A UN statement said the top United Nations administrator in Kosovo, Soren Jessen-Petersen, welcomed the coalition agreement but is awaiting details of the deal.

(Reuters/AP/dpa)