Serbian PM resigns

2008-03-08 20:21

Belgrade - Serbian nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica resigned on Saturday, and called for elections in May, amid a government crisis over Kosovo's independence and Serbia's future within Europe.

"The government of Serbia has no united policy any more on an important issue related to the future of the country - Kosovo as a part of Serbia," Kostunica told reporters in Belgrade.

"Such a government could not function any more. This is the end of the government and we should return the mandate to the people," he said, as he appealed for early elections to be held on May 11.

"That is why I have called a government session to decide the parliament to be dissolved and to call parliamentary elections."

Under the constitution, Serbia's president dissolves the parliament following an explained proposal of the government.

Kostunica's nationalist Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) has split with its coalition partner, the Democratic Party (DS) of the pro-Western President Boris Tadic, over EU rapprochement after Kosovo declared independence on February 17.

The DSS, backed by ultra-nationalist opposition Serbian Radical Party, vowed to stop Serbia's integration into the European Union, following anger over most EU members' recognition of the new state of Kosovo.

While also opposing Kosovo's independence, Tadic and his party maintain that Serbia has no alternative than to continue along its EU path.

- AFP