Serbia in coalition scramble

Serbia's pro-European alliance sought a coalition deal with smaller parties yesterday to stave off a challenge from nationalist runners-up who say they too can form a government after Sunday's parliamentary election.

The state election commission said that with around 98 percent of votes counted, the Democratic Party had 38.75 percent and the nationalist Radical Party 29.2 percent.

The election was fought on whether Serbs should swallow their anger over European Union support for the independence of Kosovo, the Serb province which seceded in February, or turn their backs on the bid for EU membership.