BELGRADE, Serbia-Serbia's nationalists and late strongman Slobodan Milosevic's Socialists said Friday they are close to forming the new government, sidelining an election victory of pro-Western groups.

The parties said they had agreed late Thursday on a general set of principles for the new, national government.

More meetings will be held Friday to work out the details of a possible agreement, ultranationalist politician Gordana Pop Lazic said.

Such a deal between the far-right Radical Party, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's Popular Coalition and Milosevic's Socialists would allow the nationalists to return to power for the first time since Milosevic was ousted in 2000.

They have teamed up to challenge pro-Western President Boris Tadic's coalition, which won more votes than any other party in Sunday's general elections but not enough to govern alone.

Tadic has criticized the nationalists' attempts to form a government, and pledged to do all in his power to prevent it. He also has asked the Socialists to join his government.

At stake are Tadic's plans to bring Serbia closer to the European Union after years of isolation under Milosevic.

The nationalists have sought to halt Serbia's EU integration because more than half of the bloc's member states have recognized Kosovo, Serbia's cherished medieval heartland that declared independence in February.

The nationalists said in a statement they had agreed with the Socialists on governing principles including pro-European integration, but only with Kosovo as part of Serbia. Other priorities would include fighting crime and corruption and developing the economy.

Tadic's For a European Serbia coalition won 102 seats in Sunday's vote. He is also supported by the pro-Western Liberal Party's 14 deputies and four ethnic Hungarians lawmakers.

The Radicals won 78 seats and Kostunica's party 30. Both sides need the Socialists with their 20 seats.

The Liberals said Friday that if the nationalists form the government, the pro-Western camp should form a so-called "shadow" Cabinet.