TURNOUT AT PRESIDENTIAL RUN-OFF BY 11 A.M. HIGHER IN NORTH AREAS

ZAGREB, Feb 7 (Hina) - The turnout at the second round of Croatia's presidential election by 11 a.m. is one percent higher than at parliamentary elections on January 3, and three percent higher than at the first round of the presidential poll on January 24, National Electoral Commission head Marijan Ramuscak said on Monday. The 25.47 percent turnout has covered about 80 percent of all polling stations. Broken down by counties, the highest turnout has been recorded in the north, and the lowest in the south of the country. Virovitica-Podravina County has recorded a turnout of 37.47 percent, Varazdin County 35.11 percent, and Koprivnica-Krizevci County 30.56 percent. The lowest turnout, 16.86 percent, has been recorded in Zadar County, followed by Split-Dalmatia County and Sibenik-Knin County, with a little over 19 percent of voters casting their ballot. Reports on voting in neighbouring Bosnia-Herzegovina say the turnout at polling stations is high, even though there is still no official data. Ramuscak explained the unexpectedly good turnout at the third elections in a little over a month with the great interest among citizens, as well as with the good weather. New information on the turnout will be released in the afternoon. The first results of the vote will be made public at midnight. (hina) ha