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Serbia voters to pick president Votes counted in Serbian election
(1 day later)
Serbians are to vote in a presidential run-off election seen as key to the country's future, with polls showing the two candidates neck-and-neck. Counting is under way after polls closed in a knife-edge presidential election in Serbia, which could determine its relations with Europe.
Hardline nationalist Tomislav Nikolic is challenging President Boris Tadic, who is seen as more pro-Western. Exit polls gave the Western-leaning President Boris Tadic a slight lead over his challenger, Tomislav Nikolic.
Mr Nikolic narrowly won the first round two weeks ago, but was beaten in the run-off in a similar contest in 2004. A pro-Russian nationalist, Mr Nikolic was beaten by Mr Tadic in a similar run-off in 2004.
The poll is being watched closely, with the province of Kosovo expected to declare independence in a few weeks. The election is taking place amid a looming independence declaration from Kosovo, which both candidates oppose.
Kosovo has been run by the UN since 1999, when a US-led Nato bombing campaign drove out Serb forces accused of a brutal crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatism. As the polls closed at 2000 (1900 GMT), voter turnout was estimated at around 66%, Serbia's highest since the 2000 election that ousted Slobodan Milosevic after more than 10 years in power.
The strong turnout is expected to work in the favour of the incumbent by diluting Mr Nikolic's hardcore of supporters, analysts suggest.
Mr Nikolic headed a field of nine candidates in the first round on 20 January, beating Mr Tadic by 40% to 35.4%.
A simple majority of the vote is required for victory in the run-off, and initial results are expected within hours.
'Agony and decline'
With Kosovo looking set to declare independence within weeks, the BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade says many Serbs see the vote as a referendum on their country's future.
Kosovo has been run by the UN since 1999, when a US-led Nato bombing campaign drove out Serb forces accused of a brutal crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists.
Incumbent President Boris Tadic wants Serbia to be part of the EU
The US and most of the EU members back the independence plan, while Serbia and Russia are strongly opposed to it.The US and most of the EU members back the independence plan, while Serbia and Russia are strongly opposed to it.
Symbolic weight Mr Tadic, a psychology graduate and former defence minister, leads the Democratic Party, which has made pushing for Serbian entry to the European Union a priority.
The BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade says many Serbs see the vote as a referendum on the country's future, with the two candidates representing two contrasting visions of the path Serbia should take.
Kosovo issue hangs over voteQ&A: Serbian electionProfiles: Presidential rivals Mr Tadic, a psychology graduate and former telecommunications and defence minister, leads the Democratic Party, which has made pushing for Serbian entry to the European Union a priority.
He supports the free market and democratic reforms, and advocates co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal in the Hague.He supports the free market and democratic reforms, and advocates co-operation with the UN war crimes tribunal in the Hague.
Mr Nikolic was one of the founders of the hardline nationalist Serbian Radical Party. 'Same direction'
The Radicals were former allies of the ex-president, Slobodan Milosevic, and their leader, Vojislav Seselj, is currently on trial at the Hague for his role during the wars of the 1990s. After casting his ballot at a Belgrade polling station, he told reporters: "I am totally sure that we are going to take the same direction towards the European Union."
Mr Nikolic, who believes in closer ties with Russia, was one of the founders of the hardline nationalist Serbian Radical Party.
Voting in Belgrade, he told reporters: "Without me Serbia has no future.
Q&A: Serbian electionProfiles: Presidential rivalsIn pictures: Serbian elections
"It is a country in agony and decline. This is a country of unfulfilled promises and great expectations, like in Charles Dickens."
The Radicals were allies of the ex-president, Slobodan Milosevic, and their leader, Vojislav Seselj, is currently on trial at the Hague for his role during the wars of the 1990s.
Mr Nikolic strongly opposes co-operation with the Hague, wants closer ties with Russia and has expressed strong doubts about Serbia's relations with the European Union.Mr Nikolic strongly opposes co-operation with the Hague, wants closer ties with Russia and has expressed strong doubts about Serbia's relations with the European Union.
While the presidency is a largely ceremonial office, the president is commander in chief of the armed forces, a role which carries strong symbolic weight, our correspondent says . One voter, Milica Milivojevic, told the BBC: "I want Kosovo in Serbia, where it belongs, someone to stop the corruption, and Tadic is not the man."
'Two roads' But another voter, Nemanja Stevanovi, said: "If Tomislav Nikolic becomes president people will very soon understand what mistake they have done."
Both candidates strongly oppose the idea of an independent Kosovo. While the presidency is a largely ceremonial office, the president is commander in chief of the armed forces, a role which carries strong symbolic weight, our correspondent says.
Both candidates are opposed to Kosovan independenceBut during the election campaign Mr Nikolic has projected a more hardline stance on ties with the EU if the bloc recognises Kosovo's independence.
In a debate on Wednesday, Mr Tadic urged voters to choose the path of integration with the EU, warning that the alternative was isolation of Serbia in Europe.
Mr Nikolic said that Serbia faced two roads - one towards Russia, the other a "thorny" path towards the EU.
"Russia is our friend who will prevent the United States and the European Union from taking Kosovo away from us," he said.
Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has refused to endorse Mr Tadic, his partner in the ruling coalition, saying it is up to voters to choose the president.
Ethnic Albanian leaders in Kosovo have hinted that the expected declaration of independence may be delayed, after saying earlier this week it was "an issue of days".Ethnic Albanian leaders in Kosovo have hinted that the expected declaration of independence may be delayed, after saying earlier this week it was "an issue of days".
Kosovo is still technically a southern province of Serbia.Kosovo is still technically a southern province of Serbia.
EU states have asked Kosovo's leadership to wait until an EU civilian mission can take over from the UN.EU states have asked Kosovo's leadership to wait until an EU civilian mission can take over from the UN.
A police and judicial staff of about 1,800 is being prepared to work in tandem with the existing Nato-led force.
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