This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7198481.stm
The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Serbians vote for head of state | Serbians vote for head of state |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Voting is under way in Serbia in presidential elections which could shape the country's future direction. | Voting is under way in Serbia in presidential elections which could shape the country's future direction. |
| The election comes at a crucial time, with tensions rising over the future of Serbia's disputed province of Kosovo. | The election comes at a crucial time, with tensions rising over the future of Serbia's disputed province of Kosovo. |
| Nine candidates are contesting the election, though analysts expect a second round run-off will be needed. | Nine candidates are contesting the election, though analysts expect a second round run-off will be needed. |
| Most analysts regard it as a race between current pro-Western President, Boris Tadic, and Tomislav Nikolic, the leader of a hardline nationalist party. | Most analysts regard it as a race between current pro-Western President, Boris Tadic, and Tomislav Nikolic, the leader of a hardline nationalist party. |
| Mr Nikolic's Serbian Radicals are the country's largest political party. | |
| Some pre-election opinion polls gave him a slim lead over Mr Tadic, who defeated him in the run-off round of the 2004 presidential election by 53.7% to 45%. | |
| Polls opened at 0700 local time (0600 GMT) and are expected to close at 2000. | |
| Kosovo debate | Kosovo debate |
| The campaign has been dominated by the issues of Kosovo, the economy and closers ties with the European Union. | The campaign has been dominated by the issues of Kosovo, the economy and closers ties with the European Union. |
| Q&A: Serbian electionMark Mardell's blog | Q&A: Serbian electionMark Mardell's blog |
| Mr Nikolic favours eventual membership of the EU but says friendship with Serbia's fellow Orthodox Slavs in Russia is more important. | Mr Nikolic favours eventual membership of the EU but says friendship with Serbia's fellow Orthodox Slavs in Russia is more important. |
| "Russia is a much closer partner to Serbia. Our path to Russia is open," he said. | "Russia is a much closer partner to Serbia. Our path to Russia is open," he said. |
| "But if the EU wants to open up its doors and no longer impose obstacles, we will be glad to join the EU." | "But if the EU wants to open up its doors and no longer impose obstacles, we will be glad to join the EU." |
| To become president, the winner must gain more than 50% of the votes. | To become president, the winner must gain more than 50% of the votes. |
| The BBC's Nick Thorpe has been speaking to Serbs about their presidential election on Sunday.In pictures | The BBC's Nick Thorpe has been speaking to Serbs about their presidential election on Sunday.In pictures |
| If this is not achieved on Sunday, the top two candidates will hold a run-off election at the start of February. | If this is not achieved on Sunday, the top two candidates will hold a run-off election at the start of February. |
| Mr Tadic thinks the election will be close. | Mr Tadic thinks the election will be close. |
| "This vote is the first half of the match," he said. | "This vote is the first half of the match," he said. |
| "The second half, on 3 February, will be a chance to once again decide to conquer Europe, a better life, better salaries and pensions, greater security." | "The second half, on 3 February, will be a chance to once again decide to conquer Europe, a better life, better salaries and pensions, greater security." |
| Symbolism | Symbolism |
| The post of president is largely ceremonial, but it does carry enormous symbolic influence, says the BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade. | The post of president is largely ceremonial, but it does carry enormous symbolic influence, says the BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade. |
| The president is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. | The president is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. |
| This could be critical in the coming weeks and months, when ethnic Albanians in the UN-administered province of Kosovo are expected to declare independence, our correspondent says. | This could be critical in the coming weeks and months, when ethnic Albanians in the UN-administered province of Kosovo are expected to declare independence, our correspondent says. |
| Kosovo's new prime minister, Hashim Thaci, has said he wants to steer the province to formal independence within "a few weeks". | Kosovo's new prime minister, Hashim Thaci, has said he wants to steer the province to formal independence within "a few weeks". |
| Both Mr Tadic and Mr Nikolic are strongly opposed to this. | Both Mr Tadic and Mr Nikolic are strongly opposed to this. |
| But Mr Nikolic has projected a more hardline stance on ties with the EU if the bloc recognises Kosovan independence. | But Mr Nikolic has projected a more hardline stance on ties with the EU if the bloc recognises Kosovan independence. |
| His campaign has benefited from growing frustration at Western backing for Kosovo independence, as well as at the pace of Western-style reforms. HAVE YOUR SAY I don't have much faith in elections in that region Albert Klein, Almere, Netherlands Send us your comments | His campaign has benefited from growing frustration at Western backing for Kosovo independence, as well as at the pace of Western-style reforms. HAVE YOUR SAY I don't have much faith in elections in that region Albert Klein, Almere, Netherlands Send us your comments |
| The issues of living standards, employment levels and measures to fight against corruption will figure highly for ordinary voters, analysts say. | The issues of living standards, employment levels and measures to fight against corruption will figure highly for ordinary voters, analysts say. |
| A small number of international observers from the OSCE and Russia will monitor the poll. | A small number of international observers from the OSCE and Russia will monitor the poll. |
| On 11 January, Serbia's election commission said it would bar US and British observers over their support for Kosovan independence. | On 11 January, Serbia's election commission said it would bar US and British observers over their support for Kosovan independence. |
| Over 3,000 monitors from Serbia's nongovernmental Center For Free Elections and Democracy (CESID) will also be watching the poll. | Over 3,000 monitors from Serbia's nongovernmental Center For Free Elections and Democracy (CESID) will also be watching the poll. |