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BELGRADE - Serbia's ultranationalist Radical Party led in a national election today in a rebuff from voters to Western appeals for a government more willing to co-operate over Kosovo and the handover of war criminals.
The opposition Radicals, strongest party in Serbia for years, showed no sign of losing their appeal despite outspoken Western warnings.
A projection of the result showed them taking 28.5 per cent of the vote, a point higher than the last parliamentary election in 2003.
"The Radical Party has won these elections," said Tomislav Nikolic, the Radical's candidate for prime minister in the absence of party leader Vojislav Seselj, who is on trial for war crimes at The Hague.
His only regret was the Radicals did not win 50 per cent.
"That spoils our celebration tonight because we're convinced that hard days lie ahead for Serbia," Nikolic said. "Until the Radicals form a government, things will be tough for Serbia."
Western capitals worried about Serbia's future course could take heart in the fact the pro-Western opposition Democratic Party of President Boris Tadic nearly doubled its share of the vote, at 22 per cent.
The projection from the Centre for Free Elections and Democracy, based on actual results counted, showed neither of the two parties had enough votes for a parliamentary majority.
Outgoing Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia was seen taking about 17 per cent of the vote. Kostunica courted the nationalist vote in his campaign and has not ruled out allying with the Radicals if he ends up kingmaker.
A coalition of their two parties would have a slim majority in the 250-seat parliament. A Kostunica coalition with the Democrats would need the liberal G17 party to form a majority.
The West made clear to Serbs ahead of the election that they should turn their backs on nationalism if they hoped to join the European Union and Nato, and make up for a decade of isolation, war and sanctions under late leader Slobodan Milosevic.
Germany and Russia issued statements of encouragement during the day to opposite ends of the political spectrum.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she wanted to see "democratic forces" strengthened -- underscoring the West's desire for a constructive approach on the breakaway Kosovo province and the handover of war criminals still at large.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said would oppose independence for Kosovo if Serbia rejected a plan that diplomats say will give self-determination to the province's 90 per cent ethnic Albanian majority.
Russia is considered an ally of fellow Orthodox Christian Serbs, although it has by no means always backed Belgrade.
Most Serbs saw the election as a crossroads choice about future prosperity, realising their economic prospects are inextricably linked to two tough political issues that will decide how they stand with the EU and Nato.
The EU froze talks on closer ties with Belgrade in May. It said they would resume only when war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic, charged with genocide, was on trial in The Hague.
Tadic's Democrats say arresting Mladic is a priority. The Radicals are unlikely to hand over a man they see as a hero.
No major Serb party concedes the loss of Kosovo. Tadic has come closest to telling Serbs it might be a fact the country has to come to terms with, while the Radicals and Kostunica vow no surrender of the province, cradle of Serbia's Orthodox faith.
James Lyon, analyst for the International Crisis Group, said coalition talks would be tough because no party wanted to handle a popular backlash if Kosovo breaks away.
"There's a very big possibility that no government is formed," Lyon said. "No one wants to be in power when Kosovo gets independence."
- REUTERS
