Early results: Reformers win two-thirds majority in Serb elections

The Centre for Free and Democratic Elections (CESID), which had nearly 12,000 authorized observers at 7,000 of around 8,700 polling stations, said DOS won 64.3 per cent of the vote, or 176 of 250 seats in the parliament.

DOS, a coalition of 18 parties, plans to appoint Zoran Djindjic as prime minister. Former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic's Socialist Party of Serbia won 13.3 per cent, or 36 seats, while Vojislav Seselj's nationalist Serbian Radical Party got 8.6 per cent, or 23 seats.

Stunning many observers, the Party of Serbian Unity passed the five per cent hurdle and looks set to have 15 deputies in the legislature after winning 5.7 per cent of the vote. The far-right SSJ was founded by underworld boss and paramilitary leader Zeljko Raznatovic Arkan, who was assassinated in Belgrade last January.

Formerly leading the opposition, Vuk Draskovic's Serbian Renewal Movement failed to qualify for parliament by winning just 3.7 per cent of the vote, CESID said.

Voter turnout was low, at below 59 per cent. The figures supplied by the parties varied slightly, with differences adding up to change no more than a seat in each group.

First official results from the Republican Election Commission were expected at noon Sunday.

(klei/dpa)