Dinkić steps down as URS party leader

Dinkić steps down as URS party leader

BELGRADE -- Mlađan Dinkić has stepped down from his position as leader of the United Regions of Serbia (URS) "after the election debacle" on Sunday, Tanjug reported.

The party, which failed to cross the five-percent threshold and win seats in the new parliament, will he headed by Verica Kalanović and Veroljub Stevanović until a new president has been appointed, it was announced on Tuesday.

Tanjug said it learned from the party that Dinkić notified members of the URS leadership at a session held on Tuesday that he "assumed personal responsibility for the election result and had decided to file a resignation."

Speaking late on Sunday, Dinkić said he was considering "withdrawing from politics," and that he would certainly resign as party leader.

Since 2000, Dinkić served as minister in several governments, and also held the office of governor of Serbia's central bank (NBS).