Flemish separatists vie for poll victory

CLOSE to eight million Belgians will cast their votes tomorrow in a poll that could be another move towards splitting their country in two.

Flemish separatist parties are getting the support of half of their Dutch-speaking electorate on a ticket that promises them much more independence from their French-speaking compatriots.

Their leaders are couching their message in much softer tones than those used by the racist populist Vlaams Belang that has long advocated the country be split.