Serbia's Tadic claims victory for pro-EU camp

Serbia's President Boris Tadic claimed victory for the pro-European Union camp today after his party and its allies took the biggest share of the vote in an election battle with hardline nationalists.

"Serbs have undoubtedly confirmed a clear European path for Serbia," President Tadic told supporters at his Democratic Party headquarters. Projections showed him well ahead though still far short of a governing majority of seats in parliament.

"The government we will form will not recognise Kosovo," President Tadic added, countering nationalist warnings that the pro-EU camp would concede the independence of Serbia's southern province, which broke away in February with majority EU backing.