BOSNIA: Main political leaders and party candidates cast their votes on October 1 general elections in Bosnia

Bosnians turned out in big numbers for parliamentary elections on Sunday in a deeply divided country after a decade of international supervision. "The total turnout of voters in Bosnia and Herzegovina until 2 p.m. (1200 GMT) amounted to up to 31.54 percent," election commission president Branko Petric said. The overall turnout in the last parliamentary election in 2002 was about 55 percent. Analysts say a high turnout may favour moderates in Bosnia, where Muslim, Serb and Croat leaders disagree on how to run the country after the planned end of the international protectorate next year. The election officials said the turnout was higher than in the previous elections since many new voters were registered automatically as holders of new identity cards. "The absolute number of voters is much, much higher than in 2002 because their number has increased by 400,000," said election commission member Lidija Korac. Those standing for election turned out to vote, Sulejman Tihic, Bosnian Muslim member of Bosnian presidency and SDA candidate for another term, said: "I don't expect major changes (on political scene). There may be some changes in proportion of power among parties which create constant majority " Meanwhile Ivo Miro Jovic, Croat Member Of Bosnian Presidency and HDZ Candidate For New Term, said: "I am absolutely confident that I will be elected for the seat of Croat member of presidency and that Croat Democratic Union will win on all levels of power." While Dragan Cavic, President Of Serb Republic And President Of SDS (Serb Democratic Party) said he was interested how the election went as a political process: "Regardless of who wins, if we finish these elections without any incidents or possible frauds, democracy will win, and that will be the best message sent from Serb Republic for the future." Serb Republic Prime Minister Milorad Dodik said: "We have a big turnout and that is very important. This indeed is voting for Serb Republic and I call on all who haven't voted yet to do it now." Haris Silajdzic, President Of Party For Bosnia And Herzegovina was philosophical about what the election represented: "I expect that it will be better for all of us. This is an act of democracy although what we have now in Bosnia and Herzegovina is rather ethno-democracy rather than real democracy." No major incidents were reported during voting. Voting stations remain open until 7:00 p.m. (1700 GMT) for the 2.75 million registered voters. First preliminary results were expected late on Sunday. Western officials hope ethnic passions will subside and that disgruntled voters, particularly among the young, can bring about change in one of Europe's poorest countries where unemployment stands at more than 20 percent. Voters will elect the state tri-presidency and parliament as well as the president and two vice-presidents in the Serb Republic. They will also choose the assemblies of the two regions and 10 cantons in the federation. Muslims and Croats favour strengthening the weak central government while Serbs oppose changes reducing their autonomy in the country which was divided into a Muslim-Croat federation and a Serb Republic under the 1995 Dayton peace treaty. The European Union and NATO have no plans to withdraw 6,000 troops but the post of peace overseer Christian Schwarz-Schilling would end. A successful handover would show the EU Bosnia can function on its own and boost its chances for EU membership. The main Muslim Party of Democratic Action faces a strong challenge from its current ruling allies, the Party for Bosnia-Herzegovina, and from the Social Democrats, the biggest opposition and multi-ethnic party. The long-dominant Croatian Democratic Union has lost some influence but should still do well. The Alliance of Independent Social Democrats of Prime Minister Milorad Dodik is set for a big win in the Serb Republic. Dodik caused a stir in the West with talk of secession if his region's existence comes under threat.

ITN Source | October 2, 2006

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