On the eve of his retirement after three years of serving as the deputy head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Charles Brayshaw says nascent democratic institutions in the province will need continued international support to flourish.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his senior envoy to Kosovo have hailed elections for the province's assembly, saying the high and peaceful voter turnout Saturday showed the public wanted to participate despite pressure from some quarters to stay home.

Voicing deep concern at attempts to dissuade Kosovo’s ethnic Serb population from participating in this Saturday’s elections, the senior United Nations envoy there today urged all Serbs to vote so they can play their part in rebuilding the troubled province.