Serbians head to polls in latest snap election

Serbians are voting in snap elections that seem likely to keep President Aleksander Vucic's party in power despite anti-government protests.

The coalition led by the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) is forecast to retain its majority in parliament.

But it is expected to face tough battles in local elections against a coalition campaigning under the Serbia Against Violence banner.

It was formed by opposition parties following two mass shootings in May.

The attacks killed 19 people, including 10 at a school in Belgrade, and sparked mass protests against gun violence.

Those grew into demonstrations against President Vucic and the SNS.

Opposition parties claimed that the massacres reflected a culture of rhetorical and physical violence promoted by the ruling party and its allies in the media.

The country is also struggling with high inflation, which hit 8% in November.

Meanwhile, Serbia is under pressure from the European Union (EU) and the US to normalise relations with Kosovo.

Serbia is a candidate to become a member of the EU. Kosovo declared independence in 2008 but Serbia has refused to recognise the state.

Meanwhile, Serbia has also declined to impose sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

The SNS has been in power since 2012 but there have three elections in the past three years.

President Vucic said on Sunday that he expected "a good turnout and a decisive victory".

The loose coalition of opposition parties running under the Serbia Against Violence banner were in favour of holding this latest election.

As well as the parliamentary ballot to secure a four-year term, there are a number of municipal seats up for grabs, including in the Serbian capital, Belgrade.

Analysts say the battle for the capital is important because of its strong symbolic significance and being the only place where the opposition has a good chance of victory.

On Sunday, Dragan Djilas, the former mayor of Belgrade and a leader of the Serbia Against Violence alliance, told Reuters that "changes in Serbia have begun."

He said: "People are determined to live... normally without crime and corruptions, without prices going wild."