CROATIA held a presidential election today, with Social Democratic incumbent Zoran Milanovic not expected to win an outright majority in the first round of voting.

Mr Milanovic faced seven other contenders, including Dragan Primorac, the candidate of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union.

According to pre-election polls, the two rivals will face off in a second round on January 12, as happpens when no contender gets more than 50 per cent of the vote.