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| Serbian reformers claim victory | Serbian reformers claim victory |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Serbian President Boris Tadic has claimed victory in the country's parliamentary elections. | Serbian President Boris Tadic has claimed victory in the country's parliamentary elections. |
| Unofficial results suggested a big lead for his pro-Western alliance over ultra-nationalist opponents. | Unofficial results suggested a big lead for his pro-Western alliance over ultra-nationalist opponents. |
| Mr Tadic said Serbs had chosen the path of integration with Europe, but vowed his new government would not recognise Kosovo as an independent state. | Mr Tadic said Serbs had chosen the path of integration with Europe, but vowed his new government would not recognise Kosovo as an independent state. |
| His bloc will not have a majority in parliament and will have to seek a coalition with smaller parties. | His bloc will not have a majority in parliament and will have to seek a coalition with smaller parties. |
| The ultra-nationalist Radical Party indirectly accepted the results by publishing its own projection, but its leader Tomislav Nikolic said it could still form a nationalist coalition against Mr Tadic. | The ultra-nationalist Radical Party indirectly accepted the results by publishing its own projection, but its leader Tomislav Nikolic said it could still form a nationalist coalition against Mr Tadic. |
| The people of Serbia have undoubtedly confirmed that Serbia is clearly on a European path Boris TadicSerbian president Poll fuels Kosovo tension | The people of Serbia have undoubtedly confirmed that Serbia is clearly on a European path Boris TadicSerbian president Poll fuels Kosovo tension |
| Kosovo's declaration of independence was considered a major campaign issue. | Kosovo's declaration of independence was considered a major campaign issue. |
| Disagreements over how to react when most EU countries recognised Kosovo led to the collapse of a fragile coalition between Mr Tadic's Democratic Party and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's nationalist Democratic Party of Serbia. | Disagreements over how to react when most EU countries recognised Kosovo led to the collapse of a fragile coalition between Mr Tadic's Democratic Party and Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's nationalist Democratic Party of Serbia. |
| Sigh of relief | Sigh of relief |
| Mr Tadic said the Serbian people had in effect given their approval to the country's membership of the EU. | Mr Tadic said the Serbian people had in effect given their approval to the country's membership of the EU. |
| "The people of Serbia have undoubtedly confirmed that Serbia is clearly on a European path," he told supporters in Belgrade. | "The people of Serbia have undoubtedly confirmed that Serbia is clearly on a European path," he told supporters in Belgrade. |
| A statement from the EU's Slovenian presidency welcomed a "clear victory" for pro-European forces, and said it hoped they would quickly form a government. | A statement from the EU's Slovenian presidency welcomed a "clear victory" for pro-European forces, and said it hoped they would quickly form a government. |
| Some seven million Serbs were eligible to go to the polls. | Some seven million Serbs were eligible to go to the polls. |
| The final turnout was 60.7%, the non-governmental Centre for Free Elections and Democracy said. | The final turnout was 60.7%, the non-governmental Centre for Free Elections and Democracy said. |
| A projection of the result based on a sample count throughout the country suggested the Democratic Party and its allies had won about 39% and the ultra-nationalist Radical Party 29%. | A projection of the result based on a sample count throughout the country suggested the Democratic Party and its allies had won about 39% and the ultra-nationalist Radical Party 29%. |
| His alliance is projected to have around 103 seats in the 250-seat parliament. | His alliance is projected to have around 103 seats in the 250-seat parliament. |
| The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Belgrade says that if confirmed the unofficial results would trigger a collective sigh of relief across Europe. | The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Belgrade says that if confirmed the unofficial results would trigger a collective sigh of relief across Europe. |
| Mr Tadic, narrowly re-elected in January against Mr Nikolic, could now claim a much stronger mandate for his pledge to bring Serbia closer to the EU, she says. | Mr Tadic, narrowly re-elected in January against Mr Nikolic, could now claim a much stronger mandate for his pledge to bring Serbia closer to the EU, she says. |
| But with no overall majority for the reformers, the result could still allow nationalist parties to form a larger bloc. | But with no overall majority for the reformers, the result could still allow nationalist parties to form a larger bloc. |
| Polarised nation | Polarised nation |
| It is just over a year since the last, inconclusive general election. | It is just over a year since the last, inconclusive general election. |
| A bitter campaign seems to have left Serbia more polarised than ever, our correspondent says. | A bitter campaign seems to have left Serbia more polarised than ever, our correspondent says. |
| Serbia's President Boris Tadic casts his vote | Serbia's President Boris Tadic casts his vote |
| The Radical Party has argued that signing the EU agreement was tantamount to recognising Kosovo independence, and has promised closer ties to Moscow. | The Radical Party has argued that signing the EU agreement was tantamount to recognising Kosovo independence, and has promised closer ties to Moscow. |
| However, there are fears that Serbia is headed once again for a weak government, if not months of political squabbling and instability, our correspondent adds. | However, there are fears that Serbia is headed once again for a weak government, if not months of political squabbling and instability, our correspondent adds. |
| In Kosovo, national and council elections have been organised directly by Serbia in defiance of the Albanian and international authorities. | In Kosovo, national and council elections have been organised directly by Serbia in defiance of the Albanian and international authorities. |
| The Serbian capital is plastered with election posters | The Serbian capital is plastered with election posters |
| Many Kosovo Serbs see the polls as a chance to elect genuine local leaders at last, the BBC's Nick Thorpe reports from Pristina. | Many Kosovo Serbs see the polls as a chance to elect genuine local leaders at last, the BBC's Nick Thorpe reports from Pristina. |
| Marko Jaksic, a Kosovo Serb leader in the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, said he hoped the Radicals would win, describing Boris Tadic as the EU's "favourite puppet". | Marko Jaksic, a Kosovo Serb leader in the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica, said he hoped the Radicals would win, describing Boris Tadic as the EU's "favourite puppet". |
| Oliver Ivanovic, a moderate Kosovo Serb leader in the town, suggested a win for pro-EU parties would benefit Serbs. | Oliver Ivanovic, a moderate Kosovo Serb leader in the town, suggested a win for pro-EU parties would benefit Serbs. |
| "If the democratic forces win these elections, I'm quit sure that Serbia will be very soon after in the EU," he said. | "If the democratic forces win these elections, I'm quit sure that Serbia will be very soon after in the EU," he said. |
| UN official Joachim Ruecker said the outcome of the election there would not be recognised. | UN official Joachim Ruecker said the outcome of the election there would not be recognised. |
| Are you in Serbia? What's your reaction to the election result? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. |