Serbian president Boris Tadić dissolved parliament on March 13 and called snap polls for May 11, when local elections in Serbia are due, Serbian B92 radio reported.

“Elections are a democratic way for the citizens to decide how Serbia should develop over the coming years. This is a chance for us to strengthen our capacities to defend our country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, to bolster our economic position through European integration, to confirm our society's democratic credentials, and to change things for the better,” Tadić said, as quoted by B92.

The dissolution of Serbian parliament came five days after prime minister Vojislav Koštunica resigned over failure to agree a common position on Serbia's foreign policy with his coalition partners.

Koštunica insisted on tearing relations with the European Union unless it recognised Kosovo as an integral part of Serbia, whereas the other government parties took a more moderate stance, claiming Serbia should continue with its EU integration.