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| Serbia election victory for Tadic | Serbia election victory for Tadic |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Serbia's pro-Western president, Boris Tadic, has won a second round election run-off against nationalist challenger Tomislav Nikolic, who conceded defeat. | Serbia's pro-Western president, Boris Tadic, has won a second round election run-off against nationalist challenger Tomislav Nikolic, who conceded defeat. |
| Mr Tadic was re-elected by more than 50% of voters in a contest that saw the highest turnout since 2000. | Mr Tadic was re-elected by more than 50% of voters in a contest that saw the highest turnout since 2000. |
| Car horns could be heard around Belgrade as Tadic supporters took to the streets of the Serbian capital to celebrate the victory. | Car horns could be heard around Belgrade as Tadic supporters took to the streets of the Serbian capital to celebrate the victory. |
| The election was seen as a referendum on Serbia's relations with Europe. | The election was seen as a referendum on Serbia's relations with Europe. |
| Mr Nikolic congratulated Mr Tadic on his victory but warned the European Union not to blackmail Serbia as Mr Nikolic pushes forward his integration agenda. | Mr Nikolic congratulated Mr Tadic on his victory but warned the European Union not to blackmail Serbia as Mr Nikolic pushes forward his integration agenda. |
| The poll had been seen as a fundamental choice for the country, which has yet to fully shake off the isolation of the 1990s. | The poll had been seen as a fundamental choice for the country, which has yet to fully shake off the isolation of the 1990s. |
| The reformist Mr Tadic had campaigned on a ticket promising EU-backed prosperity against Mr Nikolic's pro-Moscow campaign. | The reformist Mr Tadic had campaigned on a ticket promising EU-backed prosperity against Mr Nikolic's pro-Moscow campaign. |
| Both candidates stood against independence for the largely ethnic Albanian province of Kosovo, which is nonetheless expected to be declared within days. | Both candidates stood against independence for the largely ethnic Albanian province of Kosovo, which is nonetheless expected to be declared within days. |
| Serbia is widely seen as key to the stability of the western Balkan region. | Serbia is widely seen as key to the stability of the western Balkan region. |
| 'Agony and decline' | 'Agony and decline' |
| With Kosovo looking set to declare independence within weeks, the BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade said many Serbs saw 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 said many Serbs saw 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. |
| Tomislav Nikolic said Serbia was a country of 'unfulfilled promise' | Tomislav Nikolic said Serbia was a country of 'unfulfilled promise' |
| 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 earlier on Sunday, 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 earlier on Sunday, 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. |
| Q&A: Serbian electionProfiles: Presidential rivalsIn pictures: Serbian elections class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4215&edition=1">Send your comments | |
| 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. |
| 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. |