Ljubljana - Slovenian centre-left leader Borut Pahor was formally tapped as prime minister-elect Monday and pledged to focus on the economy as the tiny European Union nation faces tougher times.

Pahor's Social Democrats won the most votes in September 21 parliamentary elections and were expected to lead a four-party coalition government with 55 seats in the 
90-member parliament.

Pahor, speaking after President Danilo Tuerk formally nominated him to head the next government, pledged to work to stabilize the economy.

Ljubljana - Queen Elizabeth II received a golden tea set Tuesday at the start of her three-day visit to Slovenia, her first since the Alpine-Adriatic republic claimed independence from former Yugoslavia.

Queen Elisabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, were whisked away from the airport outside the capital Ljubljana to meet their host, President Danilo Turk, at the nearby 16th century castle Brdo pri Kranju.

Upon arrival, the Queen, President Turk and their spouses posed for pictures and exchanged gifts.

Ljubljana - Security was discreetly stepped up in Ljubljana Tuesday morning, hours ahead of the first visit to Slovenia by the Queen of England to the independent Slovenia in the afternoon.

The Ljubljana airport would shut down to other traffic shortly before and after the 2 pm (1200 GMT) arrival of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Streets near the hotel where Queen Elisabeth II and her husband would spend the night would also be closed to traffic, but otherwise life in the Slovenian capital went on as usual.

The visit was arranged on invitation by Slovenian President Danilo Turk.

Vienna - The Vienna Stock Exchange won anti-trust regulators' approval to take over Slovenia's main bourse, the Austrian operator said Thursday.

Wiener Boerse agreed in June to buy an 81.01-per-cent stake in the stock exchange of the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, beating an offer from Greek Hellenic Exchanges.

Slovenian anti-trust authorities have now cleared the deal, the Vienna exchange said in a statement.

Ljubljana  - No clear winner was in sight on Saturday, a day before Slovenians vote in a general election.

Some surveys predict Prime Minister Janez Jansa, 50, and his centre-right Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) will obtain slightly more votes than the rival Social Democrats (SD) led by Borhut Pahor.

Both parties are tipped to win between 26-29 per cent of the vote, making a coalition unavoidable in the 90-sear Drzavni Zbor, or lower house.

The final outcome depends on how the numerous smaller parties perform, and whether they clear the 4 per cent hurdle needed for parliamentary representation.

Ljubljana - Despite serious corruption allegations against Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, his centre-right Slovenian Democratic party (SDS) was still marginally ahead in pre-election polls, but with with no clear winner predicted.

Three weeks before Sunday's election, Finnish TV station YLE had released a report accusing Jansa of accepting a 21-million-euro bribe (32.6 million dollars) to secure the purchase of 135 Finnish armoured vehicles for the Slovenian army.

Although Jansa may have managed to turn accusations around and gained more sympathy for his party, the general feeling was that the race is too tight for him to be confident.