(BELGRADE) - A divided Serbia voted Sunday in snap general elections that gave its people the stark choice of entering or rebuffing the European Union after the trauma of losing Kosovo.

Three hours before the polling stations were to close at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT), some 42 percent of the 6.7 million electorate had cast ballots, much lower than expected, said the non-governmental Centre for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID).

The ultra-nationalist Radical Party, which supported Slobodan Milosevic, is running neck-and-neck with a pro-European alliance spearheaded by President Boris Tadic, each credited with around one third of the vote, according to latest surveys.

Their rivalry again came to the forefront as they cast votes.

Radicals leader Tomislav Nikolic vowed to end Serbia's integration with the European Union unless it accepts Kosovo, which declared its independence on February 17, as a part of the country.

"With the European Union, we should not negotiate about anything anymore, without it first clearly saying that Serbia is recognised as a whole," Nikolic told reporters outside a kindergarten serving as a polling station.

For years the strongest parliamentary force, the Radicals are again expected to fall short of an outright majority. But this time they look set to form a government with the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) of outgoing nationalist Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica.

"I hope that we will form a government during the next week. Now I can openly say that we would like to form a government with the DSS," Nikolic said.

Meanwhile, speaking to foreign media after voting in Belgrade, Tadic said that he was confident of victory for the pro-European alliance in polls he described as "vitally important."

"I am totally sure that people of Serbia are going to vote for their European future, and also to contribute in terms of our capability to defend our legitimate interest in Kosovo," said the Democratic Party (DS) leader.

Tadic also opposes the independence of Kosovo, but not at the expense of the Balkan country's integration into the European Union, which has mainly given strong backing to an independent Kosovo.

Running on the ticket "For a European Serbia," his DS party may have gained a few popularity points after signing a pre-membership accord with the European Union in late April.

The Serbian polls brought to the fore deep-rooted divisions about the European Union -- viewed as a means for a better life by some voters, but despised over the issue of Kosovo by others.

That divide was apparent at a queue outside a polling booth in a Belgrade residential bloc, where the word Kosovo was on everyone's lips.

Gordana, a woman in her fifties, complained about the European Union's "very negative" stance towards Serbia after most of its 27 nations recognised Kosovo.

But Mirko Causkovic, a 84-year-old pensioner, said: "I expect that integration into Europe will bring us a better life and I don't think there is a negative attitude towards Serbia."

The electorate -- including more than 115,000 Serbs in the tense Albanian-majority Kosovo -- will choose 250 parliamentary deputies, as well as local councillors.

The elections were called in March after Kostunica's year-old government collapsed in a rift over ties with the European Union after the Kosovo split.

Voting went ahead in Kosovo despite opposition from the United Nations and Kosovo Albanians, who see the polls as an illegal attempt by Serbia to partition the breakaway territory.

Some 40 countries led by the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan and most EU nations have recognised Kosovo's independence, fuelling anti-Western anger, protests and violence in Serbia.

That has bolstered hardliners who want stronger ties with Russia, China, Arab and African nations instead of countries that have helped to carve off a place most Serbs consider the cradle of their history, culture and Orthodox Christian religion.

Early result estimates are expected at around 10 p.m. (2000 GMT) two hours after the polling stations are closed, while the electoral commission is to give final results by May 15.

Whichever party wins, it will need to form a coalition with at least one other among parties including the Socialists founded by Milosevic and the Liberal Democrats whose leader Cedomir Jovanovic negotiated his arrest in 2001.

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