Voting stations opened throughout Bosnia Sunday for elections that will help determine the European future of the deeply ethnically divided Balkans country.

The international community hopes that the vote will bring the war-torn country a new leadership that will work to overcome ethnic divisions and push for political reforms, like the strengthening of the weak central institutions which is a key condition for Bosnia to enter the EU.

Some 3.1 voters will be eligible to choose country's tripartite presidency, central parliament and assemblies of two semi-independent entities -- Serb-run Republika Srpska (RS) and the Muslim-Croat Federation.

Voters in RS will also elect a president, while people in the Federation will cast their ballots for district parliaments.

More than 5,200 polling stations were open until 7 pm (1700 GMT). First results were expected by midnight local time.

Some 1,100 observers, including 485 international ones, monitored the vote

Preliminary election results released Sunday indicate that Bosnia's three-person presidency will remain deadlocked over the nation's future, with two leaders of the ethnically divided country advocating unity and a third pushing for the country's breakup.

With 73.8% of votes counted, Bakir Izetbegovic was leading the race for the presidency's Muslim seat, the electoral commission said.

Mr Izetbegovic, who is the son of Bosnia's wartime leader Alija Izetbegovic, is considered to be more moderate than the present Muslim member of the presidency, Haris Silajdzic.

He has called for compromise with the other communities to overcome the deep ethnic divisions that still paralyse the country 15 years after the Bosnian war.

The candidate leading the race for the Croat seat, incumbent Zeljko Komsic, is also a strong supporter of a unified, multi-ethnic Bosnia.

Serb incumbent Nebojsa Radmanovic in contrast backs the idea of Bosnian Serb secession from the country.

If final results bear out the early returns from polling stations, the presidency might again be split over the unity of the country rather than end the political stalemate that is blocking economic reforms and clouding Bosnia's chances for EU membership.

Final results were not expected until Monday. Election commission officials said overall turnout was 56 percent compared with 53 percent four years ago.

The campaign had been characterized by harsh rhetoric, with Serbs demanding secession, Croats calling for the possibility of their own autonomous region and Bosniaks - Bosnian Muslims - seeking a stronger central government.

The EU has told Bosnia that if it wishes to join, it must create a stronger central government.

Bosnia is "a weak, decentralized state," noted the U.S. State Department in a report that blames Serb officials for trying to undermine federal structures.