BELGRADE, Serbia -- Serbian voters rebuffed nationalist parties in parliamentary elections Sunday, indicating they wanted to move closer to Europe despite the recognition of Kosovo's independence by many western nations.

Early projections from an independent monitoring group, the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CESID), indicated that the pro-western Democratic Party of President Boris Tadic and its smaller allies won just under 40 percent of the vote, compared to less than 30 percent for the ultranationalist Serbian Radical Party.

"The citizens of Serbia have clearly and unequivocally confirmed their commitment to the European course," said a smiling Tadic as he declared victory Sunday evening after his party's surprisingly strong showing. Opinion polls, and local betting halls, had predicted a win for the Radical Party, whose leader is facing war crimes charges in The Hague.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The United States intervened in Pakistan's political crisis Sunday, delivering a strong message of concern over the coalition government's infighting as the country's leaders remained deadlocked.

Richard Boucher, the assistant secretary of state for South Asia, met in London with Asif Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, heads of Pakistan's two main political parties, where they were trying to agree on a formula for restoring the judges fired in November by President Pervez Musharraf.

Some of Sharif's ministers, including the country's finance minister, are likely to quit the Cabinet on Monday to protest the government's inability to fulfill its pledge to bring back the judiciary, destabilizing the country further and playing into Musharraf's hands.

Before flying back to Pakistan on Sunday, a despondent Sharif admitted: "There is deadlock ... I think every Pakistani is disappointed with the outcome of these talks."

U.S. officials denied that Boucher was mediating or attempting to impose a solution to the Pakistani leaders on the judicial issue.

But Western diplomats said Boucher had expressed deep frustration over the way that the six-week-old Pakistani government has become entangled in a constitution wrangle to the neglect of other pressing issues, especially fighting terrorism.

KHARTOUM, Sudan -- Sudan severed ties with Chad on Sunday, accusing its neighbor of backing a rebel assault on the capital and raising the possibility of new border clashes that could worsen Darfur's humanitarian crisis.

A curfew was lifted in Sudan's capital, but residents hunkered inside and security remained tight a day after the government repulsed an unprecedented assault on Khartoum by Darfur rebels.

In the capital's twin city of Omdurman, frightened residents emerged slowly to find buildings pockmarked with bullet holes and streets littered with charred cars. Women draped in flowered gowns stepped around huge armored personnel carriers, inspecting the damage. The city's main market was closed, and residents milled around on side streets, staying off main roads lined with checkpoints.

"We were worried at first, that Khartoum may again be unsafe," said Hatem, a 45-year-old Omdurman resident who would not give his last name, fearing government reprisal. "We are extremely cautious."

"Police are searching for rebels on the run and are pestering us for IDs," he said.

KATMANDU, Nepal -- Police detained more than 600 female Tibetan protesters, including many Buddhist nuns, on Sunday after breaking up several demonstrations against China's recent crackdown in Tibet.

It was the largest number of protesters detained on a single day since Tibetan exiles began almost daily protests in March against Chinese policies in Tibet and the first time that only women demonstrated.

The protesters held three separate rallies in Katmandu but were quickly stopped by police. More than 600 protesters were being held in detention centers in Katmandu, said police official R.P. Dhamala.

The first group was stopped even before they could enter a street from an open area where they had gathered.

"Just to create what is happening in Tibet we wanted to do a silent march here, a peaceful silent march," said Doma Tsomo, who was among the protesters. "Unfortunately even before we could start police started arresting people."

A second group managed to enter the street but was quickly stopped by police and taken away in buses and trucks. The third group, which was smaller, protested near the Chinese Embassy's visa office and was also detained.

Detained protesters are generally freed by police later in the day.