Serbia votes in crucial poll
Both presidential candidates are against independence for the southern province of Kosovo
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Sunday, 03, Feb 2008 10:39
Voters in Serbia are going to the polls today in the second round of a closely fought presidential election.
Serbians will choose between incumbent president Boris Tadic, who favours closer ties with the European Union (EU), and Tomislav Nikolic, who supports closer ties with Russia and is seen as a nationalist leader.
While both leaders are against independence for the country's southern province of Kosovo, the two candidates have contrasting views of the country's future foreign policy. The US and most members of the EU are in favour of independence for the UN-administered province while Russia is against the move.
Speaking earlier this week, Mr Nikolic said: "Serbia has two roads: the one to Russia is wide open, the other one to the EU is thorny and full of obstacles".
Current leader Mr Tadic has said a vote for his rival would return the country to the period of isolation during the reign of Slobodan Milosevic, which saw the break-up of Yugoslavia into many countries and a NATO-led bombing campaign in the province of Kosovo.
Kosovo is expected to announce independence soon after the results of polls are announced. Voting will end today at 19:00 GMT.