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Nationalists 'lead Serbia poll' Serbia nationalists claim victory
(about 3 hours 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 results suggest.
The Centre for Free Elections and Democracy, a monitoring body, said the radicals had taken 28.5% of the vote. 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 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-EU Democratic Party (DS) and Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) were credited with 22% and 17% respectively.
The pro-reform Democratic Party (DS) and Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) were credited with 22% and 17%. EU foreign ministers are due to meet in to discuss the bloc's ties with Belgrade and the future of Kosovo.
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.Serbia's electoral commission said turnout was about 62% of the 6.6 million eligible voters.
The BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade says a period of negotiations between the political parties over who will form a government will follow.
'Vicious campaign''Vicious campaign'
After the first projections were announced, Mr 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."
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 question who is going with whom is inappropriate at this moment Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica
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.
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 campaigned on the fight against corruption and keeping Kosovo within Serbia.His party campaigned on the fight against corruption and keeping Kosovo within Serbia.
The group's 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 kingmakerPossible kingmaker
Prime Minister Vojislav 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
"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, our correspondent says, 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.
Mr Tadic, whose Democratic Party is challenging the prime minister, 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 are: 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.
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  • The economy - growth has been solid recently but unemployment is still high and there are concerns about corruption
 The mostly-ethnic Albanian region is legally a province of Serbia but is under UN administration.
  • EU membership - talks have stalled over the continuing failure of Serbian authorities to capture war crimes suspects
    		• The UN's chief envoy for the province is expected next month to recommend some form of independence - something the SRS vehemently opposes.
  • Kosovo - the mostly-ethnic Albanian region is legally a province of Serbia but is under UN administration.
    • The UN's chief envoy for Kosovo, Martti Ahtisaari, is to present his proposal for the future status of Kosovo soon after the election.
    He is expected 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.