Kosovo Serbs hold referendum
Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo are voting on whether to recognise the authority of the ethnic-Albanian dominated government in Pristina.
As they have ignored the administration since Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008.
There are about 35000 voters in Serbia but the number of the vote participants is expected to be comparatively low, reports The Voice of America.
Ethnic Albanians comprise 90% of Kosovo's population. Serbs in Kosovo have settled in suburban areas, near the border with Serbia.
European countries urge Serbia to stop provoking ethnic unrest in the border regions and threaten to reject the country's bid to join the European Union.
The EU has delayed a decision on granting Serbia membership candidate status, citing concerns over its fraught relations with Kosovo.
The result of the two-day referendum is expected on February 19, just after the fourth anniversary of Kosovo's independence declaration.
