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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Serbia election victory for Tadic | Serbia election victory for Tadic |
| (about 1 hour 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 a high voter turnout. | Mr Tadic was re-elected by more than 50% of voters in a contest that saw a high voter turnout. |
| 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. |
| "Serbia has shown its great democratic potential," said Mr Tadic said in his victory speech, in which he lauded Mr Nikolic for his performance in the knife-edge contest, and said the country still had hard work ahead. | "Serbia has shown its great democratic potential," said Mr Tadic said in his victory speech, in which he lauded Mr Nikolic for his performance in the knife-edge contest, and said the country still had hard work ahead. |
| 'Stop blackmailing' | 'Stop blackmailing' |
| Serbia's electoral commission said Mr Tadic had secured 51% of the vote compared to Mr Nikolic's 47% in a closely monitored election. | Serbia's electoral commission said Mr Tadic had secured 51% of the vote compared to Mr Nikolic's 47% in a closely monitored election. |
| Conceding defeat at his party's headquarters, Mr Nikolic congratulated his opponent, but added: "My message to the EU is to stop blackmailing Serbia and stop putting impossible conditions, that we are ready to be within the EU, but there are some conditions we cannot fulfil." | Conceding defeat at his party's headquarters, Mr Nikolic congratulated his opponent, but added: "My message to the EU is to stop blackmailing Serbia and stop putting impossible conditions, that we are ready to be within the EU, but there are some conditions we cannot fulfil." |
| Sunday's vote saw the highest turnout since 2000 | Sunday's vote saw the highest turnout since 2000 |
| His comment was an apparent reference to EU pressure on Serbia to accept Kosovan independence. | His comment was an apparent reference to EU pressure on Serbia to accept Kosovan independence. |
| The election had been seen as a fundamental choice for the country, which has yet to fully shake off the isolation of the 1990s. | The election 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. | Both candidates stood against independence for the largely ethnic Albanian province of Kosovo. |
| 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. |
| War crimes trials | War crimes trials |
| 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. |
| Q&A: Serbian electionProfiles: Presidential rivalsIn pictures: Tadic victorious class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4215&edition=1">Send your comments | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Commander in chief | Commander in chief |
| 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. |
| 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. |