Milosevic criticised as poll puts opposition ahead

Kostunica says Milosevic will "manipulate" elections

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Voters will reject Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic because they long to lead a "normal life", one of the country's presidential candidates has told CNN.

Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) candidate Vojislav Kostunica said it would be difficult to imagine people living in Serbia in favour of Milosevic's policy.

"That means living very hard, living in a country that is not internationally recognised, living with all sorts of problems…" he said.

Kostunica was speaking as the DOS and the other major opposition party -- the Serbian Renewal Movement -- launched their campaigns ahead of the September 24 elections.

VIDEO An interview with main opposition candidate Vojislav Kostunica Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) According to CNN's Alessio Vinci, in the weeks ahead it will become clear to voters who the real opposition party candidate will be Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     MESSAGE BOARD Peace in the Balkans

He said it was vital that the party outlined its policies to the electorate if he was to stand any chance of winning.

"It is a problem for Slobodan Milosevic to appear among the common people. I can look in their eyes quite openly and frankly, I can go to some parts of Yugoslavia where it would be quite unimaginable for Milosevic to appear," Kostunica said.

"I am talking about Montenegro, Kosovo and so on."

A new poll shows Milosevic lagging behind Kostunica, independent radio B2-92 said on Monday, adding that the results showed the opposition would get 35 percent of the vote and Milosevic 23 percent.

Another poll put support for Kostunica at 30 percent against 25 percent for Milosevic.

Two other presidential candidates -- Vojislav Mihailovic from the Serbian Renewal Movement (SPO), the largest single opposition party, and Tomislav Nikolic of the ultra-nationalist Radical party -- would each get five percent of the votes, according to the polls.

Milosevic: Polls show him trailing

But Kostunica, who represents 15 opposition parties, said he expected Milosevic to attempt to steal votes and "manipulate" the election process.

He added that despite the difficulties in campaigning without the support of the independent media, after 10 years people knew the differences between the policies of Milosevic and the opposition.

The opposition are urging the SPO to drop Mihailovic and join them.

Mihailovic said on Monday that he believed he would make it into a second round but that the SPO would back Kostunica if he failed to do so "because the most important (thing) is to beat Milosevic."

CNN's Alessio Vinci in Belgrade says that Kostunica is convinced that as the campaign progresses it will become clear to voters that he is the main opposition candidate.

Yugoslavia's candidates
August 3, 2000
Serbian opposition to announce candidate to stand against Milosevic
August 2, 2000
Yugoslavia sets date for elections; boycott planned
July 27, 2000
Yugoslavia changes law, allowing Milosevic to seek new term
July 6, 2000
Milosevic opponents launch election campaigns
August 20, 2000

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Official Web Site
Democratic Party (Yugoslavia)
Serbian Renewal Movement

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