BELGRADE: NEW PRESIDENTIAL VOTE ONLY AFTER PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION

BELGRADE, Nov 16 (Hina) - After Sunday's failed presidential elections in Serbia, the new presidential vote will be called after the 28 December early parliamentary elections, Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic said on Sunday evening. #L# "It is obvious that presidential elections will have to be called after the parliamentary elections and the constitution of the new parliament," Zivkovic said, adding that the situation in which Serbia was without a parliament and a president was not contrary to the constitution. The Serbian government will ensure the normal functioning of all institutions until the parliamentary elections are held and the new government appointed, Zivkovic said. In yesterday's presidential vote, which failed due to a turnout of 38.5 percent (the legal requirement being 50 percent plus one vote), Serb Radical Party candidate Tomislav Nikolic won the most votes - 46.9 percent (around 1,180,000 votes), while the ruling DOS coalition's candidate Dragoljub Micunovic won 35.3 percent of the vote, or 885,000 votes. (hina) rml sb