Macedonians voted in a closely fought general election on Wednesday, hoping to avoid the fraud and intimidation that marred past polls and stay on track for future membership of the European Union.
The ruling Social Democrats face a stiff challenge from the opposition VMRO-DPMNE, as voters vent frustration at a lack of jobs and decent wages 15 years after the country split peacefully from Yugoslavia.
Leaders have appealed for a free and fair vote, alarmed by a campaign marred by shootouts in the capital Skopje and attacks on party offices in the mainly Albanian west. By lunchtime no major incidents had been reported. Shops were closed and the capital was quiet.
"Elections started well this morning, and I hope they end well too," President Branko Crvenkovski of the Social Democrats said after voting in Skopje. "I hope we'll earn positive remarks from Brussels, which will enable Macedonia to continue on its path to the EU and Nato."
The EU and Nato warned in advance that further violence, or a repeat of irregularities that tainted local elections in March 2005, could put on ice Macedonia's bid to join both blocs.
The Balkan country of 2 million people became an official candidate for EU membership in December 2005, four years after a six-month long ethnic Albanian insurgency came close to igniting full-blown civil war. Opinion polls suggest the Social Democrats, the main party in the ruling coalition, have lost ground to VMRO-DPMNE.
Polling stations were due to close at 7.00 pm (1700 GMT) and projections were expected later on Wednesday, with official preliminary results during the night. European observers said they would give an assessment of the conduct on Thursday.
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