A strong election success by right-wing nationalists allied to former strongman Slobodan Milosevic is leaving fractured pro-democracy groups with little choice but to unite or see Serbia slide into renewed authoritarianism.

　　Preliminary results showed the Serbian Radical party winning Sunday's parliamentary elections, ahead of more moderate nationalists. The outgoing pro-democratic government was in third place.

　　The independent Center for Free Elections and Democracy said exit polls had the Radicals with 82 seats, compared with 53 for the Democratic Party of Serbia and 37 for the Democratic Party. Full official results were not expected before later yesterday.

　　"It is important that democratic groups now form a bloc that will ensure that Serbia remains on the path of democratic reforms" and focused on membership in the European Union, said Boris Tadic, the Democratic Party chief.

　　Although the Radicals won most seats, they still cannot form the government alone, not even with Milosevic's Socialists with whom they ruled in coalition until a popular revolt in 2000 replaced them with the now outgoing pro-Western government. The Socialists came sixth.

　　The failure of the post-Milosevic leadership - more than a dozen pro-democracy groups whose unity crumbled after 2000 - brought disillusionment among many Serbs and contributed to the swing back to the hard-liners.

　　Average monthly salaries equal about US$300 and the Radicals also profited from a deep anti-West feelings generated by the NATO bombing of Serbia during the 1999 Kosovo campaign.

　　"Serbia is on the path of political chaos," said prominent analyst Aleksandar Tijanic.