Top Kosovo Serbs Reject President’s Appeal to Vote

Key Kosovo Serb leaders rejected the Yugoslav president’s appeal for participation in Nov. 17 elections, saying not enough has been done to guarantee the security and well-being of Serbs in the province.

Vuko Antonijevic, a leader of the Serb National Council in the ethnically divided city of Kosovska Mitrovica, said President Vojislav Kostunica’s announcement will not be accepted by an increasingly desperate and destitute people.

Kosovo will hold its first province-wide election to choose lawmakers who will govern the region--which is part of Serbia, the main Yugoslav republic--together with U.N. officials and NATO-led peacekeepers.