(12 May 2008)

1. Mid of Tomislav Nikolic preparing to speak at news conference
2. SOUNDBITE: (Serbian) Tomislav Nikolic, Serbian Radical Party leader:
"By derogating the constitution (and proclaiming victory), Boris Tadic has made conditions for the citizens unhappy. Our Serbian Radical Party has never before glorified in any of the elections, the winning of the majority of votes, and put pressure on Serbia to accept our victory. In the past, when various other coalitions were formed, when various other governments were sworn-in, even with the parties much smaller than us, we had the confidence that Serbian people knew why they voted and how they voted. There is a great chance for a coalition government which will not include (Tadic's) Democratic Party. I want to tell the citizens that they have right to celebrate the winning of the majority of votes of their parties, but Boris Tadic does not have the right to transfer that celebration into the celebration of those who will form the government. The government will be formed, but 126 members of the Serbian parliament will have to vote for that government. We call upon Serbia, we call upon the citizens, to stay calm. As for our part, we will not create any incident, we will not incite violence, but none can deny our victory, and our chance to form a government with our allies. It takes 126 members of the Parliament to elect and approve the government in the Serbian Parliament, and none can keep them from doing that, not even Boris Tadic."

++NIGHT SHOTS++
3. Mid of people celebrating in the streets
4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Voxpop, no name given:
"I feel wonderful. I expect to join Europe in the Union very soon."
5. SOUNDBITE: (Serbian) Voxpop, no name given:
"Serbia has shown its democratic face at last, and we want to join EU because we are part of Europe and we have proved it tonight."
6. Pan of people the street waving flags and celebrating
7. SOUNDBITE: (Serbian) Vojislav Kostunica, Serbian Prime Minister:
"From tomorrow my party will take part in difficult negotiations for the formation of the new Serbian government. It's too early to say anything specific but I hope that we will be one of the main players in the formation of the new government."
++INTERIOR SHOT++
8. Boris Tadic supporter waving scarf reading: (Serbian) 'Victory'


STORYLINE:

Serbia's pro-Western president declared victory in Sunday's parliamentary elections, edging out ultra-nationalists who tried to exploit anger over Kosovo's independence.

But his rivals vowed to try to cobble together a majority, and it was unclear if he could stave off their challenge.

Boris Tadic declared it was a great day for Serbia, after an independent monitoring group that carried out a parallel vote count nationwide said his bloc won 39 percent - about 10 percent more than the ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party.

Tadic, however, acknowledged his nationalist rivals could still team up against his Coalition for a European Serbia to try to form Serbia's next
government. Any alliance that can muster a simple 126-seat majority in the 250-seat parliament can govern, and nationalists indicated they would mount a challenge.

Although Tadic's coalition appeared assured of 103 seats, the Radicals were poised to get 76 seats. If they joined forces with Prime Minister
Vojislav Kostunica's conservative coalition, with 30 seats, and the Socialist Party of the late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic, with 21, the combined strength would be 127 seats.

government, because ideologically, he says, they were very close.



















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