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| Votes counted in Serbian election | Votes counted in Serbian election |
| (4 days later) | |
| Counting is under way after polls closed in a knife-edge presidential election in Serbia, which could determine its relations with Europe. | Counting is under way after polls closed in a knife-edge presidential election in Serbia, which could determine its relations with Europe. |
| Exit polls gave the Western-leaning President Boris Tadic a slight lead over his challenger, Tomislav Nikolic. | Exit polls gave the Western-leaning President Boris Tadic a slight lead over his challenger, Tomislav Nikolic. |
| A pro-Russian nationalist, Mr Nikolic was beaten by Mr Tadic in a similar run-off in 2004. | A pro-Russian nationalist, Mr Nikolic was beaten by Mr Tadic in a similar run-off in 2004. |
| The election is taking place amid a looming independence declaration from Kosovo, which both candidates oppose. | The election is taking place amid a looming independence declaration from Kosovo, which both candidates oppose. |
| 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. | 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. | 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%. | 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. | A simple majority of the vote is required for victory in the run-off, and initial results are expected within hours. |
| 'Agony and decline' | '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. | 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. | 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 | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| 'Same direction' | 'Same direction' |
| 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." | 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. | 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. | Voting in Belgrade, he told reporters: "Without me Serbia has no future. |
| Q&A: Serbian electionProfiles: Presidential rivalsIn pictures: Serbian elections | 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." | "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. | 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. |
| 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." | 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." |
| But another voter, Nemanja Stevanovi, said: "If Tomislav Nikolic becomes president people will very soon understand what mistake they have done." | But another voter, Nemanja Stevanovi, said: "If Tomislav Nikolic becomes president people will very soon understand what mistake they have done." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |