Serbia to approve new coalition government

Members of the Serbian Parliament met Thursday to approve a new government of 19 members, the smallest government since 1990. The Tanjug news agency said Prime Minister-designate Ivuca Davic, four deputy prime ministers and the cabinet would be sworn in immediately after the parliamentary vote, becoming Serbia\'s 12th government since the Balkan country adopted a multiparty system. Dacic is leader of the Socialist Party, the same party once led by former nationalist Prime Minister Slobodan Milosevic who was ousted in 2000. Milosevic died in 2006 while on trial for crimes against humanity. The new government is a coalition of the Serbian Progressive Party, the Socialist Party Serbia-Party of United Pensioners of Serbia-United Serbia, and the United Regions of Serbia. Serbia faces tough economic problems including a 25 percent unemployment rate, soaring inflation, and a weak currency, Serbian broadcaster B92 reported.