Turnout in Serbian election seen at 67 percent

BELGRADE – Turnout in Serbia’s presidential election on Sunday was expected to reach 67 percent, compared to 61 percent in the first round two weeks ago, monitors said.

A higher turnout was expected to boost the vote for pro-Western President Boris Tadic, who was beaten by nationalist challenger Tomislav Nikolic on Jan 20.

The election is seen as a referendum on whether the country should turn its back on the West in response to the imminent loss of the breakaway province of Kosovo.