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| Serbia nationalists claim victory | Serbia nationalists claim victory |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The nationalist Serbian Radical Party (SRS) has a clear lead in the country's elections, early results suggest. | The nationalist Serbian Radical Party (SRS) has a clear lead in the country's elections, early results suggest. |
| An election monitoring group said the Radicals had taken 28.5% of the vote, but they are not expected to find partners to form a governing coalition. | An election monitoring group said the Radicals had taken 28.5% of the vote, but they are not expected to find partners to form a governing coalition. |
| The pro-EU Democratic Party (DS) and Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) were credited with 22% and 17% respectively. | The pro-EU Democratic Party (DS) and Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) were credited with 22% and 17% respectively. |
| EU foreign ministers are due to meet in to discuss the bloc's ties with Belgrade and the future of Kosovo. | EU foreign ministers are due to meet in to discuss the bloc's ties with Belgrade and the future of Kosovo. |
| Serbia's electoral commission said turnout was about 62% of the 6.6 million eligible voters. | Serbia's electoral commission said turnout was about 62% of the 6.6 million eligible voters. |
| 'Vicious campaign' | 'Vicious campaign' |
| After the first projections were announced, the SRS candidate for prime minister, Tomislav Nikolic, said: "We have won as we had expected." | After the first projections were announced, the SRS candidate for prime minister, Tomislav Nikolic, said: "We have won as we had expected." |
| "Despite running against the parties led by the prime minister and the president (Boris Tadic) and their vicious campaigns against us, we proved our strength," Mr Nikolic said. | "Despite running against the parties led by the prime minister and the president (Boris Tadic) and their vicious campaigns against us, we proved our strength," Mr Nikolic said. |
| We have been the bridge between Europe and Serbia, people see us as that party, and it explains our results Bozidar DjelicDemocratic Party candidate for prime minister class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6285761.stm">Democrats seek close EU ties | |
| He called for the resignation of President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, who both campaigned for closer ties with the European Union. | He called for the resignation of President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, who both campaigned for closer ties with the European Union. |
| The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Belgrade says the SRS will not be part of any new government because there is no major party that will go into coalition with them. | The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Belgrade says the SRS will not be part of any new government because there is no major party that will go into coalition with them. |
| Mr Nikolic's group will once again sit on the sidelines whilst more moderate parties struggle with Serbia's many challenges, our correspondent adds. | Mr Nikolic's group will once again sit on the sidelines whilst more moderate parties struggle with Serbia's many challenges, our correspondent adds. |
| His party fought a strongly anti-western campaign. Its leader, Vojislav Seselj, is on trial for war crimes at the UN tribunal in The Hague. | His party fought a strongly anti-western campaign. Its leader, Vojislav Seselj, is on trial for war crimes at the UN tribunal in The Hague. |
| The SRS ruled the country under late leader Slobodan Milosevic during the 1990s. | The SRS ruled the country under late leader Slobodan Milosevic during the 1990s. |
| Possible kingmaker | Possible kingmaker |
| Prime Minister Kostunica, who heads the conservative DSS, brushed away speculation on who will form a coalition with whom. | Prime Minister Kostunica, who heads the conservative DSS, brushed away speculation on who will form a coalition with whom. |
| SERBIA'S MAIN PARTIES Serbian Radical Party (SRS) - Tomislav NikolicDemocratic Party (DS) - President Boris TadicDemocratic Party of Serbia (DSS) - PM Vojislav KostunicaG17Socialist Party of SerbiaLiberal Democratic Party | SERBIA'S MAIN PARTIES Serbian Radical Party (SRS) - Tomislav NikolicDemocratic Party (DS) - President Boris TadicDemocratic Party of Serbia (DSS) - PM Vojislav KostunicaG17Socialist Party of SerbiaLiberal Democratic Party |
| "The question who is going with whom is inappropriate at this moment," he said. | "The question who is going with whom is inappropriate at this moment," he said. |
| President Tadic "will have to find a man who will be able to get a majority" in the parliament, he added. | President Tadic "will have to find a man who will be able to get a majority" in the parliament, he added. |
| Mr Kostunica could end up playing kingmaker, analysts say, by striking a deal to remain prime minister with other parties. | Mr Kostunica could end up playing kingmaker, analysts say, by striking a deal to remain prime minister with other parties. |
| A slew of smaller parties won the remainder of the vote, Serbia's Centre for Free Election and Democracy said. | |
| Reformists G17 Plus won 6.8%, former President Slobodan Milosevic's Socialist Party took 5.9%, and the Liberal Democratic party 5.3%. | |
| Four other parties were forecast to win a handful of parliamentary seats. | |
| Mr Tadic, who leads the DS, said he hoped the outcome would produce a government capable of major reforms. | Mr Tadic, who leads the DS, said he hoped the outcome would produce a government capable of major reforms. |
| Correspondents say the main issues facing the next government include economic reforms, membership talks with the EU - currently stalled over co-operation with the war crimes tribunal in The Hague - and Kosovo. | Correspondents say the main issues facing the next government include economic reforms, membership talks with the EU - currently stalled over co-operation with the war crimes tribunal in The Hague - and Kosovo. |
| The mostly-ethnic Albanian region is legally a province of Serbia but is under UN administration. | The mostly-ethnic Albanian region is legally a province of Serbia but is under UN administration. |
| The UN's chief envoy for the province is expected next month to recommend some form of independence - something the SRS vehemently opposes. | The UN's chief envoy for the province is expected next month to recommend some form of independence - something the SRS vehemently opposes. |
| The other main parties have proposed wide autonomy for Kosovo within Serbia. | The other main parties have proposed wide autonomy for Kosovo within Serbia. |
| This has been the country's first general election since its union with Montenegro was dissolved last year. | This has been the country's first general election since its union with Montenegro was dissolved last year. |