Papers on both sides of Macedonia's political divide hail the first general election since last year's ethnic unrest as a cause for celebration.

According to Utrinski Vesnik, even the losers are accepting the outcome with good grace.

"The two largest opposing factions, as well as the smaller parties in the election, accepted the results and welcomed the entire election atmosphere," the paper says.

It describes this atmosphere as "peaceful and democratic, with minor incidents".

At the same time the paper, which supports the Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia, is pleased its own side won.

"Triumph of the Together for Macedonia coalition," reads the main front-page headline.

The coalition, led by the Social Democrats, also comprises some smaller ethnic parties.

The Social Democrats, led by Branko Crvenkovski, won 41% of the votes

On hearing the news, a "river of supporters" poured into the centre of the capital with party and national flags to "celebrate the great victory".

It says the only more serious incident was in the predominantly ethnic Albanian village of Lesok, where voting was suspended due to an "armed incident".

In another report, the paper quotes the chairwoman of the State Election Commission as saying that "the people showed that fair and democratic elections can be held in our country".

The paper then devotes articles to the coalition's victory in several of the country's six electoral areas.

These were among the best organised elections, which can be an example for many states.

Nova Makedonija

"Opposition convincingly defeated the authorities," reads one headline. "Ruling coalition's debacle," reads another.

"Surprisingly peaceful in Tetovo and Gostivar," is the headline of a report from the predominantly Albanian towns in western Macedonia.

"The atmosphere in Tetovo was almost festive, even national flags were flown on the streets," the paper says.

Model poll

The main pro-government paper Nova Makedonija concedes defeat without much ado.

"Together for Macedonia won," reads the main headline.

"There was Massive turnout, peaceful and in a democratic spirit," the paper says.

"These were among the best organized elections, which can be an example for many states."

Elsewhere, under the headline "Georgievski congratulates opposition on its victory", the paper carries the prime minister's official reaction.

In a special report headlined "Hope for peace and prosperity", the paper presents a public opinion poll.

Most Skopje residents polled hope the newly-elected parliament will improve the security situation.

While younger respondents hoped for "more jobs and a prosperous future", so they would not have to try their luck abroad.

Overwhelming victory

The privately-owned popular daily Vest, with no political allegiance, points out that in almost all election areas the Together for Macedonia coalition's margin of victory was as high as two-to-one.

With the exception of several incidents and irregularities the poll was conducted unexpectedly peacefully

Dnevnik

Of the ethnic Albanian parties, the paper says that the Democratic Union for Integration, or DUI, of former rebel leader Ali Ahmeti, did very well.

In all election units the DUI "literally crushed" the rival Democratic Party of Albanians, winning 75% to 90% of the ethnic Albanian vote.

The Tetovo suburb of Mala Recica positively "roared from festive gunfire" after the closing of the polls, the paper says.

The independent daily Dnevnik sums up election day with the same three adjectives as the other papers: "Free, democratic and fair."

"With the exception of several incidents and irregularities the poll was conducted unexpectedly peacefully even in regions were there were possibilities for problems," the paper says.

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.