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Nationalists 'lead Serbia poll' | Nationalists 'lead Serbia poll' |
(40 minutes later) | |
The nationalist Serbian Radical Party (SRS) has a clear lead in the country's elections, early projections suggest. | The nationalist Serbian Radical Party (SRS) has a clear lead in the country's elections, early projections suggest. |
The Centre for Free Elections and Democracy, a monitoring body, said the radicals had taken 28.5% of the vote. | The Centre for Free Elections and Democracy, a monitoring body, said the radicals had taken 28.5% of the vote. |
The SRS candidate for prime minister, Tomislav Nikolic, urged the government to resign - but it is unclear whether he can form a governing coalition. | The SRS candidate for prime minister, Tomislav Nikolic, urged the government to resign - but it is unclear whether he can form a governing coalition. |
The pro-reform Democratic Party (DS) and Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) were credited with 22% and 17%. | The pro-reform Democratic Party (DS) and Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) were credited with 22% and 17%. |
Because no one party has got a clear majority of the vote, a coalition will have to be formed. | |
Serbia's electoral commission said turnout was about 62% of the 6.6 million eligible voters. | |
The BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade says the relatively high turnout reflects the close contest between Serb nationalists and the more pro-European parties. | |
'Vicious campaign' | |
After the first projections were announced, Mr Nikolic said: "We have won as we had expected." | After the first projections were announced, Mr Nikolic said: "We have won as we had expected." |
The question who is going with whom is inappropriate at this moment Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica | |
"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. |
He ruled out a coalition with the governing DS and DSS but on the subject of coalitions with other parties he said: "Let's wait and see the final results. Things are clearer after a night's sleep." | |
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. |
Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica, who heads the conservative DSS, brushed away speculation on who will form a coalition with whom. | |
"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. | |
Mr Kostunica had urged citizens to vote - it was, he said, the best way to keep the country on a safe and stable path. | |
Mr Tadic, whose Democratic Party is challenging the prime minister, said he hoped the outcome would produce a government capable of major reforms | |
The poll was overshadowed by the issued of Kosovo, with the UN expected to rule on the future of the province this year. | The poll was overshadowed by the issued of Kosovo, with the UN expected to rule on the future of the province this year. |
It was the country's first general election since its union with Montenegro was dissolved last year. |