Russia says Kosovo election made situation worse

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Kosovo's parliamentary election won by a pro-independence party last week has worsened the situation in Serbia's breakaway region and complicated talks between Pristina and Belgrade, Russia said on Tuesday.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said a boycott of the vote by Kosovo's Serbian minority also cast doubt over the legitimacy of the new parliament.

"(The elections) have in fact contributed to the further aggravation of ethnic tensions, which could turn into a worsening of the security situation," Kamynin said in official comments posted on the Web site www.mid.ru.

Kosovo ex-guerrilla leader Hashim Thaci, whose Democratic Party won the polls, has vowed to press ahead with the region's drive for full independence from Serbia -- a prospect rejected by Belgrade and opposed by its ally Russia.

Attempts by international mediators to work out a compromise have failed to bear fruit so far.

Russia, a veto-wielding permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, has said granting independence to Kosovo despite Serbia's objections could create a dangerous precedent. Moscow says it will only back a compromise accepted by Belgrade.

"A political campaign ahead of the Kosovo polls had a negative effect on direct talks between Belgrade and Pristina on the region's status," Kamynin said.

"The political considerations have encouraged Kosovo's Albanian political leaders who took part in the polls to compete in putting out tough demands of granting unconditional sovereignty to Kosovo."

Belgrade lost control over Kosovo in 1999 when NATO pushed out Serb troops to end ethnic cleansing against the province's Albanian majority. Kosovo is now under U.N control.

Kosovo's remaining Serb minority complains they are discriminated in Kosovo and their security is under threat. Most Kosovo Serbs boycotted the polls.

"Naturally, a question arises about whether the new authorities, formed without the participation of the Serbs, will be legitimate," Kamynin said.

(Writing by Oleg Shchedrov; Editing by Michael Winfrey)