Historic polls open in Kosovo

Voting has begun in Kosovo's municipal elections in what is a first ballot since its 2008 declaration of independence form Serbia.

Over one and a half million Kosovars are eligible to vote in Sunday's mayoral and local council elections amid tight security in the enclave.

The Serbian government in Belgrade views Kosovo as a renegade province after it claimed autonomy.

The area's minority Serbs have reportedly pledged to boycott the latest vote over fears of attacks by fellow opposition Serbs and purported unfairness in local power sharing polls.

Meanwhile, around 13,000 NATO-led peace corps have also been put on alert in order to help local security personnel run safe elections.

Kosovo has had a history of violence and thousands of its Albanian citizens are believed to have been killed and many more displaced in the wake of the 1998-1999 war with Serbian forces over the region's independence.

Around 130 countries have still not recognized Kosovo's independence.