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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Polls Close in Tight Serbian Election

EU ties hang in balance as Kosovo split roils hopefuls

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(Newser) – Polls have closed in Serbia in a tight presidential race between a Euro-friendly incumbent and a pro-Russian nationalist, the BBC reports. Neither pro-Western Boris Tadic nor rival Tomislav Nikolic—or any of seven other hopefuls—is expected to win a first-round majority. The election, which has sparked debates about Kosovo independence and Serbia's EU ties, will likely go to a February runoff, AFP reports.

Both candidates oppose Kosovo's independence, but the West says Tadic will better control nationalists when the province splits after the election. Nikolic vows stronger links to Russia and opposes a UN war crimes tribunal over the 1990s Balkans war. A recent poll shows Nikolic leading by 3%, but BBC adds that Tadic beat him in a 2004 presidential runoff by more than 8 points.

Velimir Ilic, Serbia's Infrastructure Minister in the government of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and presidential candidate of his NS-New Serbia party waves at his final pre-election rally in downtown Belgrade's Republic square, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008, two days ahead of Serbia's crucial presidential elections scheduled for January 20. (AP Photo/Emil...
Velimir Ilic, Serbia's Infrastructure Minister in the government of Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica and presidential candidate of his NS-New Serbia party waves at his final pre-election rally in downtown...   (Associated Press)
Presidential candidate Tomislav Nikolic, of the ultra-nationalist SRS-Serb ian Radical Party speaks during his final pre-election rally in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, days ahead of Serbia's crucial presidential elections scheduled for January 20. (AP Photo/Srdjan Ilic)
Presidential candidate Tomislav Nikolic, of the ultra-nationalist SRS-Serb ian Radical Party speaks during his final pre-election rally in Kosovska Mitrovica, Kosovo, Serbia, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008,...   (Associated Press)
A woman walks past pre-election posters of Serbia's President Boris Tadic.
A woman walks past pre-election posters of Serbia's President Boris Tadic.   (Associated Press)
A man walks past election poster for Serbia's President Boris Tadic, which is splattered with paint, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Jan. 18, 2008. Tomislav Nikolic of the ultranationalist Serbian Radical Party, which backed Milosevic during his Balkan war campaigns in the 1990s until the former president lost power in 2000...
A man walks past election poster for Serbia's President Boris Tadic, which is splattered with paint, in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, Jan. 18, 2008. Tomislav Nikolic of the ultranationalist Serbian Radical...   (Associated Press)
Democratic party presidential candidate and current Serbian President, Boris Tadic, speaks during a final pre-election rally Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008 in Belgrade. Pro-Western President Boris Tadic faces ultra-nationalist Tomislav Nikolic in Serbia's crucial presidential elections scheduled for January 20. (AP Photo/Srdjan Ilic)
Democratic party presidential candidate and current Serbian President, Boris Tadic, speaks during a final pre-election rally Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008 in Belgrade. Pro-Western President Boris Tadic faces...   (Associated Press)
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