Kosovo's probable new political leader, Hashim Thaci, does not expect compromise from Serbia over the breakaway province's looming unilateral declaration of independence.

In an interview published Monday by Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), Thaci said he would respect the agenda set by international mediators up to December 10, when a United Nations deadline on the status of the Albanian-majority province runs out.

"I do not expect a compromise between Kosovo and Serbia, but we will respect the agenda of the Troika up to December 10," said Thaci, a former guerrilla leader whose Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) emerged as victors of the elections on Saturday.

A Troika comprising the United States, the European Union and Russia, has been attempting to mediate a solution to the status of Kosovo, whose political leaders demand independence from Serbia. Serbia, with Russian support, is steadfastly opposed.

Following the December 10 deadline, Kosovo would set its own agenda, Thaci said. "It will take the decision about its own independence and I expect international support for this," he told the FAZ.

Thaci rejected proposals to reach a solution like that achieved with China over Hong Kong after the British left or in the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus. "All these ideas have no substance," he said.

And he said Kosovo could not wait for universal approval. "We cannot wait until all states are ready to recognize us."

During a visit to the Albanian capital of Tirana in June, President George W Bush expressed support for independence from Serbia.

Within the EU, Britain, France and Germany are thought to favour independence, while Greece, Cyprus, Romania and Slovakia have expressed reservations.

Thaci said he had spoken to most EU leaders. "They are all of the opinion that a decision must be taken. And they all know what Serbia also knows: that independence is the only solution."

Regarding opposing voices within the EU, Thaci said he did not believe that either Greece or Cyprus wanted to be "an isolated voice" within the bloc.

Thaci also predicted Kosovo would soon become an official member of world organizations like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

"But what is important for us is first of all to be independent and to have an international civilian mission in the country as well as NATO," he said.

The province's probable future prime minister said that the role of the US was "irreplaceable" for Kosovo.

The PDK won 35 per cent of the votes in Saturday's elections, ahead of the current ruling party, President Fatmir Sejdiu's Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), on 22 per cent.

Turnout was a low 40-45 per cent of the 1.5 million registered voters, with the Serb minority largely boycotting the poll.