PRISTINA (AFP) - Kosovo's main ruling party yesterday withdrew its threat to split from its junior coalition partner in the first such rift since Pristina proclaimed independence in 2008. The clash between Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci's party and its junior partner led by President Fatmir Sejdiu over their coalition accord comes just days before the UN's highest court begins hearings on the legality of the territory's independence. Thaci's Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) said earlier it was rethinking its state-wide coalition with Sejdiu's Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) after reports the LDK was set to forge an alternative alliance at a municipal level after recent local polls. But the PDK later said in a statement that the «partnership of the coalition [government] at central level remains consolidated, untouchable and functional.» And the LDK confirmed it «will continue to be responsible for the functioning and implementation of state duties.»

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A London-based barrister has been named to represent former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic at his trial for war crimes and genocide, the UN criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia said yesterday. The appointment of Richard Harvey follows a November 5 order in which the tribunal said legal counsel would be appointed to Karadzic, who has been representing himself and boycotting the start of his trial as part of his efforts to gain more preparation time. The trial against Karadzic, who has denied all 11 war crimes charges stemming from the 1992-95 Bosnian war, including two of genocide, was adjourned earlier this month until March 2010 to give his new defense counsel time to prepare.

SARAJEVO (AFP) - Leaders from five Balkan countries called yesterday for better regional economic cooperation to overcome the economic crisis and to be more competitive on the European market. «It is the last moment to renew our former ties and make others. We should go together» toward the European Union market, Croatian President Stipe Mesic told a regional economic forum. The two-day Sarajevo meeting was also attended by Presidents Bamir Topi of Albania, Zeljko Komsic of Bosnia, Filip Vujanovic of Montenegro and Bulgarian Vice President Angel Marin. In 2009 all Southeastern European countries, including those who are EU members, should see their economies shrink, in some case by as much as 8 percent, a report presented during the meeting showed. The only exception is Albania, which could register 0.7 percent growth in its gross domestic product, the report said.

The number of deaths in Bulgaria linked to swine flu has risen to 23 but the rate of infection has begun falling, the health minister said in a newspaper interview yesterday. The number of deaths was «23, but at least three-quarters of those people were suffering from other serious illnesses. More than half sought medical help too late,» the minister, Bojidar Nanev, told the daily 24 Hours. The number of people infected with the (A) H1N1 virus has started to decline, he said. (AFP)

Thousands of Albania's opposition supporters gathered yesterday outside the main government building to demand a probe into allegations of vote rigging. The protest follows the narrow election victory of Prime Minister Sali Berisha's conservatives on June 28. The Socialist opposition has boycotted the parliament since the election and called for a recount in several areas. The government says a recount would be illegal. The conservatives and their allies control 75 of parliament's 140 seats; the Socialists and an ally control 65. The rally, the last in a series of weekly protests since early October, will continue until tomorrow, with Socialist lawmakers and supporters planning to pass the night in tents they will pitch around Berisha's office. (AP)

Bulgarian prosecutors charged former Defense Minister Nikolai Tsonev with abuse of power yesterday over military equipment deals they claim defrauded the country of nearly 10 million dollars. Prosecutors accused Tsonev of ordering the signing of contracts with US firm MIC Industries for the supply of a metals construction installation in early 2009 «to the detriment of the Bulgarian army.» They said the deal had caused damage to the state worth 12.9 million leva (around 9.8 million euros, 6.6 million euros) and deprived the Bulgarian air force of much needed cash to repair aircraft. (AFP)