[Urata]

Death of Kosovo's President Leaves Vacuum

By FISNIK ABRASHI
The Associated Press
Saturday, January 21, 2006; 8:45 PM

PRISTINA, Serbia-Montenegro -- Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova died of lung cancer Saturday, leaving the province's fractious political scene in disarray just before the start of crucial talks on whether it should gain the independence from Serbia that was his lifelong dream.
His departure leaves a leadership vacuum at the most sensitive time since the Kosovo war ended in 1999.



Kosovo officials on Saturday Jan 21 2006 announced that Rugova, who had been suffering from lung cancer, has died. Rugova, who came to embody ethnic Albanians' struggle for independence from Serbia, was officially diagnosed with lung cancer last September.

International leaders appealed for calm and unity in the disputed U.N.-administered province. The Serb government expressed fears that Rugova's successor might not share his commitment to nonviolence.

The much-anticipated talks between ethnic Albanians and Serb officials to determine Kosovo's future had been scheduled to begin Wednesday in Vienna, Austria. But the talks were postponed until February following the death of the man who came to embody ethnic Albanian aspirations for independence.

Rugova, 61, was surrounded by family at his home in Pristina when he died just before midday, said his spokesman, Muhamet Hamiti.

"He carried his battle with cancer with great dignity and courage until his last breath," Hamiti said.

The flag at Rugova's hillside residence was lowered to half-staff, and tearful employees, bodyguards and neighbors gathered outside his home. Pristina's streets were empty, with people glued to their radios and television screens.

Rugova often was called the "Gandhi of the Balkans" _ an allusion to the Indian leader's epic nonviolent campaign for his nation's independence. He had been at the center of Kosovo politics for more than 15 years, leading the nonviolent struggle against repression under former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

With his trademark scarf wrapped around his neck, Rugova had gained cult status among some ethnic Albanians. The chain-smoking politician, whose 2002 election made him the province's first president since the United Nations took over Kosovo's administration, was diagnosed with cancer in September.

While he was undergoing treatment, Rugova continued regular meetings with Western politicians, insisting on recognition of the province's independence even as he struggled at times to catch his breath.

His death comes as the restive province of 2 million embarks on a delicate process of negotiating a solution that ethnic Albanians _ a 90 percent-plus majority _ hope will end in full independence. The Serb minority in Kosovo and in Serbia insist the province they view as the cradle of their culture remain part of Serbia-Montenegro, the union that replaced what remained of Yugoslavia.

Kosovo has been run by the United Nations since NATO launched a bombing campaign to end a Serb crackdown on ethnic Albanian rebel separatists in 1999.