Kosovo residents headed to the polls on Sunday (December 28) as nationalist Prime Minister Albin Kurti's party seeks a majority to end a year-long political deadlock that has paralysed parliament and delayed international funding.

The vote is the second this year in Europe's youngest nation after Kurti's Vetevendosje party fell short of a majority in February.

Months of failed coalition talks prompted President Vjosa Osmani to dissolve parliament in November and call an early election.

Failure to form a government and reopen parliament would prolong the crisis at a critical time: lawmakers must elect a new president in April and ratify 1 billion euros ($1.2 billion) in loan agreements from the European Union and World Bank that expire in the coming months.

The Balkan country's opposition parties have refused to govern with Kurti, criticising his handling of ties with Western allies and his approach to Kosovo's ethnically divided north, where a Serb minority lives. Kurti blames the opposition for the impasse.

Opinion polls are not published in Kosovo, leaving the outcome uncertain.

Polls opened at 7 a.m. (0600 GMT) and will close at 7 p.m. Exit polls are expected soon after voting ends.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. VARIOUS OF MAN PUTTING SIGNS ON WALL IN POLLING STATION

2. VARIOUS OF POLLING STATION WORKERS

3. PEOPLE ARRIVING AT POLLING STATION

4. VARIOUS OF WOMAN REGISTERING TO VOTE

5. KOSOVO EMBLEM ON BALLOT BOX

6. WOMAN CASTING VOTE

7. WOMAN WALKING OUT OF VOTING BOOTH, CASTING VOTE

8. VARIOUS OF MAN REGISTERING FOR VOTE

9. MAN WALKING OUT OF VOTING BOOTH, CASTING VOTE

10. POLLING STATION WORKER GIVING OUT BALLOTS / WOMAN TAKING BALLOTS AND WALKING INTO VOTING BOOTH

11. BALLOT BOX

12. WOMAN CASTING VOTE

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) PRISTINA RESIDENT, TEUTA GASHI, SAYING:

"From these elections, we expect something better; although we are on the right track, better things are always needed."

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) 63-YEAR-OLD PRISTINA RESIDENT, FADIL CANA, SAYING:

"Everything depends on the results and the coalitions. Thank God, now even the politicians are aware that without coalitions, forming a government is impossible. We are not a kingdom."

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) 58-YEAR-OLD PRISTINA RESIDENT, REXHEP KARAKASHI, SAYING:

"There are many things that need improvement, but we have to work harder. The most urgent issues are healthcare and education."

16. (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) 55-YEAR-OLD PRISTINA RESIDENT, HANUMSHAHE ARIFI, SAYING:

"We need more jobs. Everyone should work. Young people should also work, not just hang around on the streets, not engage in illegal things, but go to work."

17. (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) 66-YEAR-OLD PRISTINA RESIDENT, NEVZAT KRASNIQI, SAYING:

"From these elections, we expect major changes with (Prime Minister) Albin Kurti. We have suffered for 25 years until now. We are seeing some big promises from him, and today we will decide for him."

18. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CASTING VOTES