PRISTINA (AFP)--The United Nations mission in Kosovo said that Serbian local elections conducted Sunday together with parliamentary ones were illegal and without effect in Kosovo. 

"Those 'local elections,' their outcomes and the Serbian municipal institutions for which they purported to elect representatives are all without legal standing or effect in Kosovo," UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker said in a statement. 

"Illegal elections cannot have legal consequences. Their outcome will not be recognized. 

"UNMIK will continue to deal exclusively with the legitimate municipal governments in all parts of Kosovo, and with the legitimate representatives of those municipalities." 

UN and Kosovo Albanian leaders are concerned Belgrade may use the polls to strengthen a parallel Serbian administration at the local level, which remained since the 1999 war thanks to Belgrade's political and financial assistance. 

In April, Ruecker twice warned Belgrade against organizing the local polls, which he said went against U.N. Security Council Resolution 1244. 

"UNMIK regrets that the Republic of Serbia chose to ignore the terms of Resolution 1244 and that it proceeded without United Nations authorization," said the UNMIK statement. 

Ruecker expressed "his appreciation to the people of Kosovo who displayed their maturity today by remaining calm and supporting the maintenance of public order."