Serbia's new president confirmed

The Serbian electoral commission has formally proclaimed the Socialist Party candidate, Milan Milutinovic, as the republic's president.

Announcing the final results of Sunday's poll, the commission said Mr Milutinovic had won more than fifty-nine percent of the vote against about thirty-eight percent for his ultra-nationalist rival, Vojslav Sesel.

The commission also confirmed that the turnout was more than fifty percent, which was necessary for the vote to be validated.

The losing candidate, Vojislav Seselj, has challenged the result, accusing the Socialists of ballot rigging.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service