(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-01-10 16:26

BELGRADE - Kosovo's parliament Wednesday evening reelected Fatmir Sejdiu of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) as president of the breakaway Serbian province.

Fatmir Sejdiu, Kosovo's president and leader of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) [Agencies]

In the third round of voting, 56-year-old Sejdiu won 68 votes in the 120-seat house, defeating his opponent, Naim Maloku of the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, who got 39 votes, Beta news agency reported.

Sejdiu succeeded late Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova in February 2006.His reelection to the largely ceremonial presidency is seen as part of a coalition deal between the LDK and the Democratic Party of Kosovo.

Kosovo has been placed under UN administration since NATO bombing drove Serbian forces out of the ethnic Albanian dominated province in 1999.

Following failed talks on the future status of the province, Kosovo's ethnic Albanian leaders have vowed to unilaterally declare independence in early 2008, but the move is unlikely before January 20, the date for presidential elections in Serbia.

The United States and a number of European countries are expected to recognize Kosovo's independence, but Serbia and Russia have said they would oppose any such move.