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Serbia votes in watershed ballot Serbia votes in watershed ballot
(about 2 hours later)
Serbs have voted in a snap general election widely seen as the most important since the overthrow of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.Serbs have voted in a snap general election widely seen as the most important since the overthrow of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000.
The poll could decide whether the country heads towards integration with the EU or returns to isolation, but turnout appeared to be low. Unofficial preliminary estimates suggested a win by President Boris Tadic's pro-Western alliance.
A pro-Western alliance led by President Boris Tadic is running neck and neck with ultra-nationalists. Mr Tadic has vowed to take the country heads towards integration with the EU while his opponents want closer ties with Moscow.
Kosovo's declaration of independence has boosted the hardliners. 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.
Serbs in Kosovo are being allowed to vote in the election though the Kosovo Albanian government and UN authority say they believe the ballot there is illegal. Serbs in Kosovo were allowed to vote in the election though the Kosovo Albanian government and UN authority said they considered the ballot to be illegal.
UN official Joachim Ruecker said the outcome of the election there would not be recognised.
Some seven million Serbs were eligible to go to the polls.Some seven million Serbs were eligible to go to the polls.
The 11 May elections are a form of referendum at which citizens will decide on whether or not Serbia... will be a member of the EU Boris TadicSerbian president Poll fuels Kosovo tension Under clear skies, a steady stream of people are casting their ballots at over 8,000 polling stations across the country, reports the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Belgrade.The 11 May elections are a form of referendum at which citizens will decide on whether or not Serbia... will be a member of the EU Boris TadicSerbian president Poll fuels Kosovo tension Under clear skies, a steady stream of people are casting their ballots at over 8,000 polling stations across the country, reports the BBC's Oana Lungescu in Belgrade.
But within three hours of the polls closing only 42.7% had voted, the non-governmental Centre for Free Elections and Democracy said. But within an hour of the polls closing only 54.2% had voted, 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 39% and the Radical Party 28.6%.
At a school in the Belgrade district of Zemon, a student who had just voted for the pro-Western coalition of President Tadic said she hoped the election would open the way to Europe, at least for young people.At a school in the Belgrade district of Zemon, a student who had just voted for the pro-Western coalition of President Tadic said she hoped the election would open the way to Europe, at least for young people.
But many agree with the ultra-nationalist radical party that Serbia should shun the EU after its support for the independence of Kosovo.But many agree with the ultra-nationalist radical party that Serbia should shun the EU after its support for the independence of Kosovo.
"Europe is important, but Serbia is more important," one pensioner said."Europe is important, but Serbia is more important," one pensioner said.
Polarised nationPolarised 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 them more polarised than ever, our correspondent says.A bitter campaign seems to have left them more polarised than ever, our correspondent says.
Serbia's President Boris Tadic casts his voteSerbia's President Boris Tadic casts his vote
Mr Tadic and his allies have hailed the signing of a long-delayed agreement with the EU as a signal that Serbia is on the road to membership of the prosperous bloc.Mr Tadic and his allies have hailed the signing of a long-delayed agreement with the EU as a signal that Serbia is on the road to membership of the prosperous bloc.
"I am totally sure that people of Serbia are going to vote for their European future, and also to contribute in terms of our capability to defend our legitimate interest in Kosovo," he told journalists after casting his ballot in Belgrade."I am totally sure that people of Serbia are going to vote for their European future, and also to contribute in terms of our capability to defend our legitimate interest in Kosovo," he told journalists after casting his ballot in Belgrade.
The ultra-nationalist Radical Party has argued that signing the EU agreement was tantamount to recognising Kosovo independence, and has promised closer ties to Moscow.The ultra-nationalist Radical Party has argued that signing the EU agreement was tantamount to recognising Kosovo independence, and has promised closer ties to Moscow.
"We'll make Serbia a country of proud people again, defend our borders and cooperate with everyone, openly with friends but cautiously with those who show they are not our friends," leader Tomislav Nikolic said after voting."We'll make Serbia a country of proud people again, defend our borders and cooperate with everyone, openly with friends but cautiously with those who show they are not our friends," leader Tomislav Nikolic said after voting.
Kosovo ballotKosovo ballot
The results are too close to call and neither bloc is expected to win a decisive majority, our correspondent says.
Mr Kostunica, whose party has branded Mr Tadic a Judas and a traitor, could hold the key to any future coalition but so could the Socialists of the late dictator Slobodan Milosevic.Mr Kostunica, whose party has branded Mr Tadic a Judas and a traitor, could hold the key to any future coalition but so could the Socialists of the late dictator Slobodan Milosevic.
However, many fear that Serbia is headed once again for a weak government, if not months of political squabbling and instability, our correspondent adds.However, many fear 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 postersThe 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.