Milosevic Challenger Rejects Runoff

By Dusan Stojanovic
Associated Press Writer
Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2000; 6:18 p.m. EDT

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Slobodan Milosevic conceded Tuesday that
his challenger finished first in Yugoslavia's presidential election and
declared a runoff - defying demands at home and abroad that he step
down.

Opposition candidate Vojislav Kostunica rejected an Oct. 8 runoff, calling
it a "fraud" and insisting that he won Sunday's election outright. At the
same time, he warned against any moves that could raise tensions and
called on the opposition to keep to a "nonviolent" response.

The opposition called for a rally Wednesday night in downtown Belgrade
to "celebrate its victory" - apparently hoping for a show of strength to
demonstrate to Milosevic the public's refusal of a runoff.

President Clinton said it was clear the opposition had defeated Milosevic,
who has led Yugoslavia for 13 years. He said that the United States
would take steps to lift economic sanctions if the election result is
honored.

"Despite the government's attempts to manipulate the vote, it does seem
clear that the people have voted for change," Clinton said in a speech at
Georgetown University in Washington.

The announcement of a runoff raises the stakes in the confrontation
between Milosevic and the opposition, which faced the choice of
accepting a runoff it considers fraudulent or trying to pressure the hardline
leader - believed to have a firm grip on the top ranks of the police and
military - to back down.

Two days after the voting, the State Elections Commission released its
first results Tuesday, saying Kostunica finished first with 48.22 percent to
40.23 percent for Milosevic. The law provided a runoff Oct. 8 if none of
the five candidates received more than 50 percent of the votes cast.

Before the announcement, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia released
its own tally, showing Kostunica with 55 percent to Milosevic's 35
percent. It said the figures were based on 97.5 percent of the ballots and
were taken from reports by opposition poll watchers at each precinct.

State television said the turnout was 64 percent, far below the 74 percent
figure given by the opposition.

"We are talking about political fraud and blatant stealing of votes,"
Kostunica said. "This is an offer which must be rejected."

But he said the opposition would avoid "careless moves which could raise
tensions in society, which could lead to unforeseeable consequences."

"The truth is obvious, and we will defend it by all nonviolent means," the
opposition leader said. "The people have given their political 'no' to
Milosevic and his policies."

Tens of thousands of Yugoslavs jammed the main squares in Belgrade and
other major cities for two straight nights after the balloting, celebrating the
opposition win and demanding Milosevic step down. Both nights, the
rallies ended without friction with police, and Tuesday night there were no
crowds in the streets.

"For us, there is no runoff," Vladan Batic, an anti-Milosevic activist, said.
"We won honestly and those who falsified the results have to face criminal
charges.

Zoran Djindjic, another opposition leader, demanded the electoral
commission inspect the official returns, saying the government had
removed 400,000 votes from Kostunica and given half of them to
Milosevic.

"We were aware of their intentions because it was obvious they were
cooking up something to get Milosevic in the second round at least,"
Djindjic said, "But we have firm evidence in our hands and we will defend
the will of the people till the end."

The influential leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Pavle,
met with Kostunica on Tuesday and urged the ruling coalition "to accept
the electoral will of the people and contribute to the welfare of the nation
and the state."

The runoff announcement came despite growing international calls for
Milosevic to accept an opposition victory.

In Washington, Defense Secretary William Cohen said the United States
would not stand by and watch Milosevic steal the election.

"I think the international community will look very closely, carefully and
bring whatever pressure it can for Milosevic to abide by the will of his
people," Cohen said. "The people want Milosevic out. Certainly the
international community would welcome that result."

Clinton held out to Yugoslavia the prospect of the end of the country's
isolation. "If the will of the people is respected, the doors to Europe and
the world will be open again to Serbia," Clinton said. "We will take steps
with our allies to lift economic sanctions, and the people of Serbia, who
have suffered so much finally will have a chance to lead normal lives."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "I say to Milosevic: You lost. Go.
Your country and the world has suffered enough."

Just 150 miles northwest of Yugoslavia's pro-Western republic of
Montenegro, U.S. and Croat forces held naval exercises Tuesday,
including a simulated Marine landing on an island in the Adriatic Sea. It
was part of their largest joint exercise to date.

Capt. William Crow, commander of the USS Austin, said the exercise
was planned months ago and was unrelated to the Yugoslav elections.

© Copyright 2000 The Associated Press