Report: Economy key to Serbian election

BELGRADE, Serbia, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Political analysts say Sunday's presidential election in Serbia is being dominated by the economy rather than the debate on Kosovo's independence.

Though the nine candidates frequently mention Kosovo during their stump speeches, polls suggest employment and living standards remain the biggest concerns of prospective voters interviewed, Euronews.net reported Saturday.

Voters also are debating whether Serbia should enhance its ties with Russia or move toward the European Union, which Friday announced it would hold talks on the possibility of Serbs having visa-free access to the EU, Euronews.net reported.

Of the two main Serbian presidential candidates, neither pro-Western incumbent Boris Tadic nor nationalist Tomislav Nikolic, of the Serbian Radicals Party, are expected to garner enough votes for a win Sunday, which means a second round of voting would be held Feb. 3.