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| Serbs voting for new parliament | Serbs voting for new parliament |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Serbs are voting in the country's first general election since its union with Montenegro was dissolved last year. | Serbs are voting in the country's first general election since its union with Montenegro was dissolved last year. |
| About 6.5m people can vote and the basic choice is between the hardline nationalists and parties that are more pro-European and pro-reform. | About 6.5m people can vote and the basic choice is between the hardline nationalists and parties that are more pro-European and pro-reform. |
| As he voted, PM Vojislav Kostunica said the best way for a better life was for Serbia to continue on its current path. | As he voted, PM Vojislav Kostunica said the best way for a better life was for Serbia to continue on its current path. |
| One difficult issue remains Kosovo, with the UN expected to rule on the future of the province this year. | One difficult issue remains Kosovo, with the UN expected to rule on the future of the province this year. |
| More than 30% of voters had turned out in the first seven hours, Serbia's Election Commission said. | More than 30% of voters had turned out in the first seven hours, Serbia's Election Commission said. |
| Polling stations will remain open until 2000 (1900 GMT). | Polling stations will remain open until 2000 (1900 GMT). |
| Initial results are expected late on Sunday evening. | Initial results are expected late on Sunday evening. |
| Coalition expected | |
| The BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade says the campaign has been largely devoid of the issues that have dominated in the past, such as co-operation with The Hague war crimes tribunal and Kosovo. | The BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade says the campaign has been largely devoid of the issues that have dominated in the past, such as co-operation with The Hague war crimes tribunal and Kosovo. |
| Instead other concerns such as the economy, privatisation, European integration and corruption have taken centre stage. | Instead other concerns such as the economy, privatisation, European integration and corruption have taken centre stage. |
| The main choice is between nationalists and pro-reform partiesVoting is expected to be split between President Boris Tadic's pro-European Democratic Party (DS), conservative Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and war crimes suspect Vojislav Seselj's nationalist SRS. | The main choice is between nationalists and pro-reform partiesVoting is expected to be split between President Boris Tadic's pro-European Democratic Party (DS), conservative Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) and war crimes suspect Vojislav Seselj's nationalist SRS. |
| Opinion polls have indicated that no party will win a majority outright but the president and prime minister are expected to form a coalition. | Opinion polls have indicated that no party will win a majority outright but the president and prime minister are expected to form a coalition. |
| The disputed province of Kosovo will be the first priority for any incoming government, our correspondent says. | The disputed province of Kosovo will be the first priority for any incoming government, our correspondent says. |
| Branko Ruzic, chair of the executive committee of the Socialist Party of Serbia, said: "The higher turnout today is a good thing for all Serbians, as it gives them a chance to decide their destiny. | |
| The higher turnout has been caused by civic organisations putting a lot of effort into raising awareness of how important the elections are Pollster Marko Blagojevic | |
| "Social and economic issues are motivating the voters, as well as the future status of Kosovo. The majority of voters are going to vote for the parties that have a consensus around Kosovo - that it shouldn't gain independence. | |
| "The Socialist Party of Serbia will use all diplomatic and legal means to ensure Kosovo remains inside Serbia." | |
| Marko Blagojevic, a pollster from the CESID agency, told the BBC: "We've been monitoring today's turnout and it was 31% by the middle of the day. That's 2% higher than it was three years ago, so I expect the total turnout to be at least 60% by the end of the day. | |
| "The higher turnout has been caused by civic organisations putting a lot of effort into raising awareness of how important the elections are. and the weather has also helped - it's been 20C." | |
| The UN's chief envoy for the province is due to give his recommendations for its future soon after the election. | The UN's chief envoy for the province is due to give his recommendations for its future soon after the election. |