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| PM claims win in Macedonian poll | PM claims win in Macedonian poll |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has claimed victory for his centre-right party in Macedonia's snap election, which was marred by ethnic violence. | Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has claimed victory for his centre-right party in Macedonia's snap election, which was marred by ethnic violence. |
| With much of the ballot counted, he predicted his party, which campaigned for EU and Nato membership, could take an overall majority in parliament. | With much of the ballot counted, he predicted his party, which campaigned for EU and Nato membership, could take an overall majority in parliament. |
| Mr Gruevski also voiced regret at violence in ethnic Albanian areas. | Mr Gruevski also voiced regret at violence in ethnic Albanian areas. |
| The poll was called after Greece blocked Macedonia's Nato admission in a dispute over the country's name. | The poll was called after Greece blocked Macedonia's Nato admission in a dispute over the country's name. |
| Macedonia is also the name of a northern region of Greece. | Macedonia is also the name of a northern region of Greece. |
| Mr Gruevski's VMRO-DPMNE party has promised not to change the name of the country under Greek pressure. | Mr Gruevski's VMRO-DPMNE party has promised not to change the name of the country under Greek pressure. |
| Re-run promised | Re-run promised |
| Police spokesman on violence surrounding Macedonia's election | |
| The prime minister predicted a landslide for his party after a partial count suggested his party had polled more than twice the number of votes of its nearest rivals, the Social Democrats. | The prime minister predicted a landslide for his party after a partial count suggested his party had polled more than twice the number of votes of its nearest rivals, the Social Democrats. |
| "If this trend continues, we will have more than 60 seats in the [120-seat] parliament," he said at a press conference at VMRO-DPMNE headquarters in Skopje. | "If this trend continues, we will have more than 60 seats in the [120-seat] parliament," he said at a press conference at VMRO-DPMNE headquarters in Skopje. |
| Election-day shootings in the Albanian stronghold of Aracinovo and other areas left at least one person dead, and election officials closed a number of polling stations amid reports of intimidation and fraud. | Election-day shootings in the Albanian stronghold of Aracinovo and other areas left at least one person dead, and election officials closed a number of polling stations amid reports of intimidation and fraud. |
| The community, which makes up about a quarter of Macedonia's mainly Slavic population, is divided between rival ethnic Albanian parties. | The community, which makes up about a quarter of Macedonia's mainly Slavic population, is divided between rival ethnic Albanian parties. |
| The unrest focused on the village of Aracinovo | |
| "In most parts the vote was fair and democratic, but sadly in one part there were irregularities," Mr Gruevski said. | "In most parts the vote was fair and democratic, but sadly in one part there were irregularities," Mr Gruevski said. |
| "I will do everything in my power to have a re-run there so each and every MP is elected fairly." | "I will do everything in my power to have a re-run there so each and every MP is elected fairly." |
| Challenges | Challenges |
| This troubled polling day could harm the country's chances of Western integration, the BBC's Helen Fawkes reports reports. | This troubled polling day could harm the country's chances of Western integration, the BBC's Helen Fawkes reports reports. |
| The European Union's executive, the Commission, has said it is very concerned by the situation. | The European Union's executive, the Commission, has said it is very concerned by the situation. |
| Denis MacShane, an MP leading a UK observer delegation to the polls, called the violence and disruptions "an assault on democracy unacceptable in today's Europe". | Denis MacShane, an MP leading a UK observer delegation to the polls, called the violence and disruptions "an assault on democracy unacceptable in today's Europe". |
| "No government can be formed as a result of this election," he said. | "No government can be formed as a result of this election," he said. |
| "New polls must be organised in all the districts where violence, intimidation and stuffing of ballot boxes have taken place." | "New polls must be organised in all the districts where violence, intimidation and stuffing of ballot boxes have taken place." |