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Serbians vote for head of state Serbians vote for head of state
(about 2 hours later)
Voting is under way in Serbia in presidential elections, the first since Serbia became independent last year, breaking its union with Montenegro. Voting is under way in Serbia in presidential elections which could shape the country's future direction.
The election comes at a crucial time, with tensions rising over the future of Serbia's disputed province of Kosovo.The election comes at a crucial time, with tensions rising over the future of Serbia's disputed province of Kosovo.
Nine candidates are contesting the election. Nine candidates are contesting the election, though analyst expect a second round run-off will be needed.
Most analysts regard it as a race between current pro-Western President, Boris Tadic, and Tomislav Nikolic, the leader of a hardline nationalist party.Most analysts regard it as a race between current pro-Western President, Boris Tadic, and Tomislav Nikolic, the leader of a hardline nationalist party.
Mr Nikolic's Serbian Radicals is the country's largest political party.Mr Nikolic's Serbian Radicals is the country's largest political party.
The campaign has been dominated by the issues of Kosovo, the economy, and closers ties with the European Union. Polls opened at 0700 local time (0600 GMT) and are expected to close at 2000 local time (1900 GMT).
The post of president is largely ceremonial, but it does carry enormous symbolic influence. The campaign has been dominated by the issues of Kosovo, the economy and closers ties with the European Union.
The president is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, which could be critical in the coming weeks and months, when Kosovo Albanians are expected to declare independence from Serbia, something strongly opposed by Belgrade. Kosovo
To become president, the winner must gain more than 50% of the votes, and it is likely that this will not be achieved on Sunday. The post of president is largely ceremonial, but it does carry enormous symbolic influence, says the BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade.
The top two candidates may very well go into a run off election at the start of February. The president is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
This could be critical in the coming weeks and months, when ethnic Albanians in the UN-administered province of Kosovo are expected to declare independence, our correspondent says.
Kosovo's new prime minister, Hashim Thaci, has said he wants to steer the province to formal independence within "a few weeks".
Both Mr Tadic and Mr Nikolic are strongly opposed to this.
But Mr Nikolic has projected a more hardline stance on ties with the EU if the bloc recognises Kosovan independence.
His campaign has benefited from growing frustration at Western backing for Kosovo independence, as well as at the pace of Western-style reforms.
Election monitors
The issues of living standards, employment levels and measures to fight against corruption will figure highly for ordinary voters, analysts say.
To become president, the winner must gain more than 50% of the votes.
If this is not achieved on Sunday, the top two candidates are expected to hold a run off election at the start of February.
A small number of international observers from the OSCE and Russia will monitor the poll.
On 11 January Serbia's election commission said it would bar US and British observers over their support for Kosovan independence.
Over 3,000 monitors from Serbia's nongovernmental Center For Free Elections and Democracy (CESID) will also be watching the poll.