BELGRADE, March 8 (Reuters) - Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica resigned on Saturday, blaming his pro-Western coalition partners for giving up on the defence of Kosovo and creating an unworkable rift in the government.

Here are some facts about the outgoing prime minister, who came to office 10 months ago:

* A little known law professor in the war-torn 1990s, he won the 2000 presidential election against autocrat Slobodan Milosevic as candidate of a fragile coalition of disparate parties, that unravelled shortly after Milosevic was ousted.

* In his tenure as president, his opposition to the extradition of Milosevic to the Hague war crimes tribunal put him at odds with reformist Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. The two men remained rivals until Djindjic's death by a sniper's bullet in 2003.

* His first term as prime minister, from 2004 to late 2006, saw him relying in parliament on Milosevic's weakened Socialists, a move criticised by his former pro-Western allies, and the first sign of his increasingly nationalist stance.

* He returned to power in May 2007 with an 11th-hour coalition deal with the pro-Western Democratic Party, two days after shocking Europe by backing an ultranationalist for a top parliament job.

* His hallmark has been his opposition to Kosovo's independence, focusing on the province's religious and cultural significance, the sanctity of Serbia's territorial integrity, and the need to respect international law.

* He is seen at home as dour, difficult and long-winded. His increasingly anti-Western rhetoric on Kosovo, and his ever-closer ties to Moscow, have led to speculation that he will be co-operating with hardline nationalists in the next election. (Writing by Ellie Tzortzi; Editing by Elizabeth Piper)

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