Kosovo Serb Politician Shot Dead

An EU policeman stands near a polling station in the northern part of the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica in November, with posters for Dimitrije Janicijevic behind him.

PRISTINA -- Kosovar President Atifete Jahjaga has called the killing of a Kosovo Serb politician a "cowardly act" and an attempt to create instability in the country.

Unknown assailants shot dead Dimitrije Janicijevic in the ethnically divided northern town of Mitrovica early on January 16.

Janicijevic was a member of the recently elected local council from the Independent Liberal Party, a coalition partner in the Kosovo government.

He also ran for mayor of Mitrovica North, the Serbian part of the town.

The results of that election were annulled and new elections are scheduled for next month after the Serbian winner refused to swear allegiance to Kosovo's ethnic Albanian authorities.

With reporting by AP