Belgrade - The Serbian parliament convened Wednesday for the first time since the May 11 snap elections, but still amid uncertainty over who would head the next government.

The assembly met to beat a legal deadline by verifying the mandate of the 250 legislators, but, without a majority coalition, it was not expected to appoint the speaker and staff the committees and offices.

The pro-European coalition led by President Boris Tadic's Democratic Party emerged from the poll with the most seats, 102, but was still without a partner for a majority.

Tadic's main rivals, Tomislav Nikolic's ultra-nationalist Serbian Radical Party claimed 78 seats and allied itself with caretaker Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia, with 30.

There are seven ethnic minority representatives in parliament who would, along with the late Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic's Socialists (SPS), with their 20 votes, play the role of kingmaker.

The SPS has launched talks with the nationalists and even signed a coalition deal on the local level, but an agreement leading to an anti-European ruling coalition remained elusive.

Local media speculate that the SPS leader, Ivica Dacic, would eventually side with Tadic in a bid to guide his party into the European political mainstream.

Much of the SPS membership and many officials may oppose that move.

The only other side in the assembly, the fervently pro-Western Liberal Democratic Party, with 13 seats, has not figured as a potential coalition partner in any combination.

In case Serbian parties fail to produce a working majority within three months, new elections would automatically be scheduled. (dpa)