Pristina boycott call

Student leaders at the University of Pristina have called for a boycott of classes following a decision by Kosovo's ministry of education to raise tuition fees by what they describe as an "appalling" 780 per cent.

The new annual fee for full-time students will be €160 (£102).

Appealing to the provisional government in Kosovo to think again, students said the new fee would force many of them to abandon or interrupt their studies. They called the decision "hasty and not well considered".

Union chair Gani Morina said the boycott was a last resort after all institutional channels to get the fees revoked had been exhausted.

Fees for part-time students, who are presumed to be working, have been set at €320.