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Serbia set to call fresh election Serbian government calls for poll
(about 3 hours later)
The Serbian government is due to hold a special session at which the president will be formally asked to dissolve parliament and call an early election. The Serbian government has called on President Boris Tadic to dissolve parliament and hold an early election.
It comes after Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica announced the collapse of his coalition government at the weekend.It comes after Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica announced the collapse of his coalition government at the weekend.
He failed to get his cabinet to reject closer EU ties in protest at Kosovo's declaration of independence last month. Ministers had failed to agree whether to suspend EU membership efforts in protest at the EU's recognition of Kosovan independence.
Mr Tadic, whose party is pushing for EU membership, has indicated he will grant the request for a snap poll.
The EU's Slovenian presidency said on Monday that it hoped pro-EU parties would win the coming election.The EU's Slovenian presidency said on Monday that it hoped pro-EU parties would win the coming election.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, whose country holds the EU presidency, said: "To be quite frank, I don't think there is any other possibility for our Serbian friends than the European Union. Where should they go?"Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel, whose country holds the EU presidency, said: "To be quite frank, I don't think there is any other possibility for our Serbian friends than the European Union. Where should they go?"
Mr Kostunica's coalition partners, the Democrats of President Boris Tadic, argue in favour of closer EU ties. A number of EU countries have recognised Kosovo after its unilateral declaration of independence on 17 February.
This is despite the fact that major EU countries have recognised Kosovo after its unilateral declaration of independence on 17 February.
Serbia - and its ally Russia - say they will never accept it.Serbia - and its ally Russia - say they will never accept it.
'Referendum''Referendum'
Last week, Mr Kostunica, a nationalist, called the special meeting to propose that parliament be dissolved and snap elections called. Last week, Mr Kostunica, a nationalist, called a special meeting to propose that parliament be dissolved and snap elections called.
The government is expected to approve that proposal, which will then be put forward to President Tadic, who has the formal power to order an early general election - likely to be held in May. At that meeting, on Monday, the government approved the proposal, which will now be put forward to President Tadic, who has the formal power to order an early general election - likely to be held in May.
He has said he will order an election, once formally requested.He has said he will order an election, once formally requested.
Serbia's coalition partners disagree over the best strategy for the future - and whether the central issue is ties with the EU, or Kosovo's independence.Serbia's coalition partners disagree over the best strategy for the future - and whether the central issue is ties with the EU, or Kosovo's independence.
Mr Kostunica, who leads the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), has said that recognition of Kosovo by EU states is illegal.Mr Kostunica, who leads the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), has said that recognition of Kosovo by EU states is illegal.
"All parties want Serbia to join the EU, but the question is how - with or without Kosovo," he said on Saturday."All parties want Serbia to join the EU, but the question is how - with or without Kosovo," he said on Saturday.
President Tadic says Belgrade will only be able to defend its right to Kosovo if it joins the EU.President Tadic says Belgrade will only be able to defend its right to Kosovo if it joins the EU.
He says the main difference between himself and his prime minister is not on Kosovo but Serbia's "European and economic outlook".He says the main difference between himself and his prime minister is not on Kosovo but Serbia's "European and economic outlook".
"The vote will be a referendum on Serbia's European perspective - or on its isolation," Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac, vice-president of Mr Tadic's party, was quoted as saying by AP last week."The vote will be a referendum on Serbia's European perspective - or on its isolation," Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac, vice-president of Mr Tadic's party, was quoted as saying by AP last week.
Kosovo's declaration of independence came nearly a decade after Nato forces expelled Serbian forces from the majority ethnic Albanian territory.Kosovo's declaration of independence came nearly a decade after Nato forces expelled Serbian forces from the majority ethnic Albanian territory.