Polls have opened in Kosovo for the first time since the ethnic Albanian majority there declared independence from Serbia in 2008. More than one and a half million voters are eligible to vote in the local election which is for Mayors and Council Members in 36 municipalities. The Kosovan government says it is determined to organise a free and fair election in which both ethnic Albanians and the minority Serbs will vote. Security is tight, especially in Serb areas where some say they fear attacks by other Serbs if they vote. Thousands of NATO peacekeepers are still stationed in Kosovo.