Serb Democrats elect new leader

By Nick Thorpe
BBC, Belgrade

Boris Tadic's victory could aid his party's return to government

The Serbian Democratic Party has elected a new leader to replace Zoran Djindjic, who was assassinated in 2003.

Boris Tadic, 46, won an easy victory against party rivals.

His success in the leadership race was widely predicted but will have important repercussions in Serbian political life.

The party remains the main centre-left force in Serbia despite its exclusion from the new minority government led by Vojislav Kostunica.

Under Zoran Djindjic, the party led a coalition government of democratic forces which dislodged Slobodan Milosevic's Socialist Party from power.

But Djindjic's assassination last March and a wave of corruption scandals involving Democratic Party officials have badly dented the party's standing.

Mr Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia will lead the new government, which will be formed next week.

Moderate influence

After a bruising battle with party rivals for the leadership, Mr Tadic's first speech called for unity, solidarity and self-criticism.

His victory could smooth the way for either the eventual inclusion of his party in the new government or at least for its outside support.

Mr Tadic is seen as a moderate influence, more acceptable to other parties than the previous leadership.

As things stand, the minority government will depend for its survival on the votes of the Socialist Party - a fact which has alarmed leading European and US politicians.