The Serbian Radical Party (SRS) captured 27.5 percent of the vote in Sunday's Serbian parliamentary election, the independent Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CESID) said.  

According to the CESID, a group that monitored the vote, the Democratic Party of Serbia led by Vojislav Kostunica gained 17.4 percent of the votes, while the Democratic Party obtained 12.7 percent. The G 17 plus gained 11.4 percent, and the Socialists Party of Serbia obtained 7.6 percent. The results are based on exit polls.

The polling stations opened at 7 am (0600GMT) and closed at 8 pm (1900GMT). About 6.5 million people are eligible to choose from 4,245 candidates and political parties and coalitions for the 250-seat parliament. The turnout was just over 59 percent or 3.8 million voters, the CESID said.

According to the first estimates by the SRS, the party expected 85 mandates in the new parliament, but analysts believe that the SRS cannot form a coalition government, because of lacking supports from other political parties and coalitions.

(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2003)