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• Kosovo mourns independence hero 

The future of Kosovo hangs in the balance after the death of Ibrahim Rugova, the leader of Kosovo's majority Albanian population.

Talks between the independence-seeking Albanians and the Serbian government were due to open in Vienna on Wednesday under the auspices of the Finnish statesman and UN mediator, Martti Ahtisaari. But the talks have been postponed until next month following Rugova's death. He was due to lead the Kosovan delegation.

Rugova, a chain-smoking, mild-mannered literature scholar who had spearheaded the drive for independence for 20 years, is almost impossible to replace. His death at 61, while expected after he was diagnosed with lung cancer, leaves a vacuum which analysts fear may be filled by more militant figures happy to stir up unrest and hasten Kosovan independence.

Rugova died at his villa in the Kosovo capital, Pristina, a few weeks after predicting that independence would finally arrive this year. Thousands of grieving Kosovans lit candles and laid wreaths of flowers in tribute to the lifelong pacifist.

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