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Serbian parties in coalition deal Serbian parties in coalition deal
(about 8 hours later)
The main pro-reform parties in Serbia have agreed to form a government, more than three months after the general election, local media reports say. Serbia's main pro-reform parties have agreed to form a government, keeping out the largest party in parliament, the hardline nationalist Radicals.
The deal was reached between the caretaker Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica, and President Boris Tadic, according to TV reports. The coalition was agreed more than three months after the general election, and four days before a deadline for new polls expired.
Mr Tadic had set Friday as the deadline for a new prime minister to be named. Serbian President Boris Tadic said caretaker Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica would stay on in the post.
If a government is not formed by 14 May, the president is obliged to call new elections. Radical parliamentary speaker Tomislav Nikolic has said he will resign.
Wrangling A parliamentary session will be held on Sunday to approve the new government.
Earlier this week a hardline nationalist, Tomislav Nikolic, was elected parliamentary speaker, prompting fears that Serbia could abandon the road to reform. Reform fears
But he has now said he will resign because a new government is being formed. The deal was reached after hours of negotiations between President Tadic, leader of the Democratic Party, and Mr Kostunica, from the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS).
The parties have been wrangling over who will control the key ministries of defence and the interior, as well as the intelligence services. It has been reported that the ministries of defence and interior will be divided between these two parties.
NEW COALITION Democratic PartyDemocratic Party of Serbia (DSS)G-17 partyNew Serbia party Earlier this week, Mr Nikolic was elected parliamentary speaker, prompting fears that Serbia could abandon the road to reform.
The nationalist Radicals became the largest party in parliament in the January election. But no party has enough seats to govern alone.The nationalist Radicals became the largest party in parliament in the January election. But no party has enough seats to govern alone.
Reports said President Tadic, whose Democratic Party is the most pro-Western, would take charge of the national security council, responsible for the hunt for the fugitive Bosnian Serb wartime leaders Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic. Reports said President Tadic, whose party is the most pro-Western, would take charge of the national security council, responsible for the hunt for the fugitive Bosnian Serb wartime leaders Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic.
The agreement involves the Democratic Party, Mr Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS), G-17 and New Serbia. The agreement involves the Democratic Party, the DSS, G-17 and New Serbia.
The BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade says the new government will have to tackle the difficult Kosovo issue. The UN Security Council is currently discussing a plan which would give the Serbian province a form of independence demanded by its majority Albanian population. Serbian leaders are opposed to the plan. The BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade says the deal marks an end to the immediate political crisis facing Serbia.
But he says an even greater challenge lies ahead. The UN Security Council is currently discussing a plan to give Kosovo its independence, something demanded by its majority Albanian population.
Serbia strongly opposes the plan and has vowed never to accept it.