Serbia's pro-western President Boris Tadic has declared victory in the country’s closely contested parliamentary elections against the ultranationalist Serbian Radical Party.

Tadic has described his win as convincing and said it showed that a majority of Serbians want to join the European Union.

He also reached out to Serbs angry at Kosovo's declaration of independence in February.

He says his government would never recognize Kosovo's statehood.

The ultra-nationalist Radical Party, led by Tomislav Nikolic came second in the vote.

The Democratic Party of Serbia, led by outgoing nationalist prime minister, Vojislav Kostunica, and the Socialist Party of the late Slobodan Milosevic trailed behind.

Turnout was 54.2 percent, lower than in previous polls.

The poll was always considered as a choice between closer ties with the European Union or favouring the unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo, which many Serbs consider their historic heartland.