No-confidence vote topples Kosovo government

Turmoil follows the resignation of the Balkan nation's president and ends the rule of the coalition that led the country in its bid for independence from Serbia in 2008.

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PRISTINA // Kosovo's parliament backed a no confidence motion on Tuesday, bringing down the government that led the country to independence from Serbia in 2008 and triggering early elections within the next 45 days.

The landlocked Balkan country's political turmoil in recent weeks follows the resignation of the president and collapse of a government coalition led by Prime Minister Hashim Thaci.

The early elections are likely to delay the start of European Union-sponsored talks with Serbia on improving their poor relations and delay privatisation of state-owned companies.

* Reuters