Serbians To Elect New government, Still Dispute Kosovo's Independent

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 EU membership.

''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 which proclaimed independence last month with the backing of the United States and several EU countries.