FIRST DAY OF VOTING CONCLUDES IN NZ, AUSTRALIA, CHINA, JAPAN

ZAGREB, Nov 22 (Hina) - The first day of voting in Croatian parliamentary elections has concluded in New Zealand, Australia, China, Japan and Malaysia because of the time difference, the State Electoral Commission said on Saturday. #L# The commission said that voting in constituency no. 11, which is designed for Croatian nationals living abroad, was taking place at 155 polling stations in 50 countries. Two polling stations for the expatriate community have also been set up in Zagreb -- one for voters resident in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the other for those from all other countries who happen to be in Croatia on election day. There are eight additional polling stations across the country for Bosnian refugees with temporary residence in Croatia. Branko Hrvatin, a stand-in member of the State Electoral Commission responsible for the vote abroad, said that on the first day of voting in Australia, 92 voters cast their ballots in Canberra and 427 in Melbourne. In neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina, by 1030 hours 340 people voted at two polling stations in Sarajevo, and 866 at five polling stations in Mostar. In Serbia and Montenegro, 106 voters have turned out at two polling stations in Belgrade, 100 at two polling stations in Subotica and 40 at two polling stations in Kotor. (hina) vm