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Bosnian Serbs vote for president Bosnian Serbs get new president
(about 22 hours later)
Early results from the presidential election in the Bosnian Serb Republic suggest the Social Democrat candidate, Rajko Kuzmanovic, is in the lead. A new president has been elected in the Bosnian Serb republic - Rajko Kuzmanovic, 76.
Electors were voting to choose a successor to President Milan Jelic, who died in September. He is a close ally of the Bosnian Serb Prime Minister, Milorad Dodik. The republic, called Republika Srpska, is part of Bosnia-Hercegovina.
There are 10 candidates, all of whom oppose any weakening of the republic's high degree of autonomy within Bosnia. Officials said Mr Kuzmanovic, of the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats, got nearly 42% of the vote.
EU officials have said central institutions must be strengthened if Bosnia is to be considered for entry. All 10 candidates opposed any weakening of the republic's high degree of autonomy within Bosnia-Hercegovina.
With 55% of votes counted, Mr Kuzmanovic had polled over 44%. European Union officials have made it clear that central institutions will have to be strengthened before Bosnia can be considered for EU membership.
His nearest rival, Ognjen Tadic, had about 33%. He is the candidate of the Serb Democratic Party, founded by fugitive war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic. Bosnian Serbs were voting to choose a successor to President Milan Jelic, who died in September.
The poll comes five days after Bosnia's first step to EU membership. Mr Kuzmanovic's nearest rival, Ognjen Tadic, polled 35%. He was the candidate of the Serb Democratic Party, founded by fugitive war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic.
On 4 December, it initialled a pre-membership agreement at a ceremony in Sarajevo, following a deal to merge the country's ethnically-divided police force. The poll came five days after Bosnia's first step to EU membership.
Prior to the election, analysts said Mr Kuzmanovic, 76, had the best chance of winning. On 4 December, it initialled a pre-membership agreement at a ceremony in Sarajevo, following a deal to merge the country's ethnically-divided police force. The Muslim-Croat federation forms the other half of Bosnia-Hercegovina.
He has the support of Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, the most powerful man in the Bosnian Serb republic.
The role of Bosnian Serb president is mostly ceremonial but includes the power to appoint or dismiss the prime minister with parliamentary support.The role of Bosnian Serb president is mostly ceremonial but includes the power to appoint or dismiss the prime minister with parliamentary support.