Kosovo parties agree to end political deadlock

* Parties reach agreement, avoid snap elections

* Female police commander proposed as next president

By Fatos Bytyci

PRISTINA, April 6 (Reuters) - Kosovo's main political parties agreed on Wednesday to end a political deadlock and avoided snap elections after the president was forced to quit last week.

The parties also proposed Atifete Jahjaga, the deputy police commander, to become the first female president of Kosovo since it declared its independence from Serbia three years ago.

She would serve until next year when parliament will change the constitution to provide for direct election of president.

The agreement by the governing PDK and AKR parties and the main opposition LDK party calls for elections in 2013, a year earlier than scheduled.

"We agree that the first direct presidential vote will be held no later than six months after constitutional changes will enter into force," Prime Minister Hashim Thaci told a news conference in the capital Pristina.

The head of the main opposition Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), Isa Mustafa, expressed his support for the agreement, which was reached under the mediation of the United States ambassador to Kosovo, Christopher Dell, whose country is the main backer of Kosovo's independence.

"I think all of us, every Kosovar, and all Kosovo's friends in the world have reason to be proud that your institutions passed this challenge," Dell said.

Former president Behgjet Pacolli was forced to quit last week after the constitutional court ruled his election by the parliament a month ago was illegal.

A stable government is needed for the country of two million people to continue with its economic reforms and technical talks with Serbia.

(Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; editing by Michael Roddy)