Serbia is heading to a presidential runoff election after nationalist challenger Tomislav Nikolic narrowly won Sunday's first round ahead of pro-Western incumbent Boris Tadic.
The state election commission and independent monitors in Serbia give Mr. Nikolic 39 percent of the vote to 35 percent for President Tadic.
Complete results have yet to be announced.
Analysts say the 61 percent turnout is the highest since the fall of Slobodan Milosevic in 2000, and foreshadows a tense battle with even higher voter participation in the second round scheduled for February 3.
Both Mr. Nikolic and Mr. Tadic oppose independence for Serbia's breakaway Kosovo province, but unlike the current president, Mr. Nikolic has promised tough measures against countries that recognize Kosovo's statehood.
While both candidates favor closer ties with the European Union, Mr. Nikolic attaches significant conditions to eventual membership.
Seven other candidates also ran in the first round balloting.
Leaders of Kosovo's ethnic Albanian majority are expected to declare independence within weeks. Kosovo has been under United Nations administration since 1999, when NATO launched airstrikes to drive Serbian and Yugoslav security forces out of the province.
Belgrade has offered broad autonomy to Kosovo but insists on retaining sovereignty. Kosovo has said it will accept nothing less than total independence.- Source: By VOA News
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
