Macedonia heads for April 5 presidential runoff

According to the initial results from the first round, which was held on Sunday, Gjorgje Ivanov of the governing VMRO party was leading the seven candidates with 36% of the vote; however, he needs over 50% to clinch outright victory. Social democrat SDSM party candidate Ljubomir Frckoski was in second with 19% of the vote and former interior minister Ljube Boskoski garnered 15%. Outgoing President Branko Crvenkovski is not seeking a second term and the final results are expected to be released later on Monday, Aleksandar Novakovski said. The Sunday polls were conducted in a fair and democratic fashion and organized without any major obstacles, he added, Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. The winner of the upcoming two-candidate runoff will be Macedonia's fourth president since the Balkan country gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.