Oliver Ivanovic: Kosovo Serb politician shot dead in front of offices

The Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic has been shot dead, his lawyer has confirmed.

"Unfortunately, I wish it weren't true, but doctors declared Oliver dead at 9.30am," Nebojsa Vlajic, Mr Ivanovic's lawyer confirmed.

Serbian media reported that unknown assailants opened fire on Mr Ivanovic in front of the offices of his Citizens' Initiative Party in Mitrovica.

The 64-year-old was one of the key politicians in Serb-dominated northern Kosovo, a former Serbian province where tensions remain high a decade after it declared independence.

A Kosovo court convicted Mr Ivanovic of war crimes during the 1998-99 war. That verdict was overturned and a retrial had been underway.

Serbian state television said President Aleksandar Vucic has called a top security meeting.

Mr Vucic also will address the public at midday GMT on Tuesday.

The attack is likely to heighten ethnic tensions in Kosovo, a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008.