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Serbian government falls over political impasse

BELGRADE, Serbia - Serbia's government collapsed Saturday over an impasse between the nationalist prime minister and the pro-Western president on how Kosovo's independence affects the Balkan country's pursuit of membership in the European Union.

"The government, which does not have united policies, cannot function," Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said as he announced the fall of his Cabinet. "That's the end of the government."

Kostunica said he will convene a session of the caretaker government Monday, which will propose to President Boris Tadic to dissolve the Parliament and call new elections for May 11.

Tadic said in a statement that he will call early elections because they are a "democratic way to overcome the political crisis."

But he disputed Kostunica's claim that their clash was over Kosovo, the Serbian medieval heartland that proclaimed independence last month with the backing of the United States and several EU countries.

"Kosovo is of course an integral part of our country," Tadic said. "I believe the issue is that the Serbian government does not have a united position over European and economic perspectives of Serbia and its citizens."

Kostunica insists that EU governments recognizing Kosovo must rescind their decisions before Serbia resumes initial membership talks with the 27-nation bloc. Within his government, Kostunica accuses pro-Western ministers of failing to support his efforts to preserve Kosovo as part of Serbia. Tadic opposes tying Serbia's EU membership to the issue of Kosovo.

[Last modified March 9, 2008, 00:53:06]