Serbia's pro-Western president declares victory in elections

Sunday's elections were the first in Serbia since Kosovo declared independence in February. Many had expected widespread anger to propel the Radicals to victory, and warned that it could plunge the country into fresh isolation.

Officials said turnout was about 60 percent -lower than in January's presidential elections, but strong for a parliamentary vote.

Dragan Sutanovac, Serbia's defense minister and a leading member of Tadic's Democratic Party, said voters "have chosen life over myths," referring to hard-liners' claims that life could not go on without Kosovo. He said Tadic's party was open to talks with any party except the Radicals on forming a new government.

Voters also cast ballots Sunday in Kosovo, where Serb leaders organized parallel local elections in defiance of international authorities. The U.N. branded the local elections illegal, but did not stop people from voting, and NATO peacekeepers stepped up patrols as a precaution. No incidents were reported.

Kostunica and Nikolic had tried to capitalize on an acute sense of betrayal after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February and gained formal recognition from the U.S., Canada, Japan and key European powers.

Serbs consider Kosovo the heart of their ancient homeland and Serbian Orthodox faith, and their bitterness has nudged the country toward ultranationalists promising to restore bruised national pride.

"I want Kosovo to remain in Serbia -that's why I voted for Serbian patriots," said Zoran Jovanovic, a 66-year-old retiree. "The European Union and the West want to take Kosovo away from Serbia. That's why there is no place for us in that bloc. Russia is our true friend."

The nationalists also sought to exploit disenchantment with 30 percent unemployment, rising prices and corruption.

But Tadic had expressed confidence earlier Sunday that Serbs would make a clean break with their turbulent past.

"I am convinced that people will vote for a European future," he said. "I am totally sure that a return to the 1990s would not be good for our country, which would happen if the Radicals return to power."