Yugoslav opposition ordered to tear down stage

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Opposition supporters have been tearing down a stage built for a rally in front of the parliament building in Belgrade after being ordered by local authorities to dismantle it -- but say the protest will still go ahead.

Crowds of over 20,000 people have been gathering nightly in Belgrade since Sunday's presidential election, demanding recognition of what they say is opposition candidate Vojislav Kostunica's victory.

President Slobodan Milosevic has defied international and domestic appeals for him to step down, saying that while Kostunica won the poll he did not secure the required 50 percent to claim a first round victory.

VIDEO GALLERY Watch video from CNN's Yugoslavia election coverage     IMAGE GALLERY Images from the historic vote     MESSAGE BOARD Peace in the Balkans     RESOURCES Yugoslavia election information

State television has reported returns released by the federal electoral commission showing Kostunica with 48.22 percent of the vote and Milosevic with 40.23 percent.

Kostunica's forces claim he won a victory margin of 54.66 percent to 35.01 percent for Milosevic, a majority that would stand without a runoff.

They have said emphatically he will not participate in a second election and have demanded to see the election commission's returns.

Kostunica, a law professor who surprised Milosevic with his widespread appeal, says his victory is "obvious" and would be defended "by all non-violent means."

"The people have given their political 'no' to Milosevic and his policies. Our first duty is to carry out that verdict."

Analysts say a runoff would give Milosevic time to create more favourable conditions for the next round and the chance to clamp down on opposition media and activists.

He would also be able to resume his nationalist campaign portraying Kostunica as a "NATO lackey and Western stooge."

Most Western leaders have recognized a victory by Kostunica and have urged Milosevic to accept defeat.

French President Jacques Chirac said the Yugoslav authorities were trying to "steal" victory and called on Milosevic to stop his "manipulations."

Jacques Chirac: Voters have rejected Milosevic

He said voters had shown "their rejection of the harmful dead-end policies of Milosevic" despite fraud in the voting process.

France, the current holder of the European Union presidency, is now consulting its partners about how to react to Belgrade's announcement that a second round of voting is needed.

Council of Europe Secretary-General Walter Schwimmer, has urged the Yugoslav military and police to abide by what he said was a clear opposition victory.

"Mr Milosevic is fighting his last battle, and it's a lost battle ... Things will doubtlessly change and the best thing Mr Milosevic can do for Yugoslavia is to resign as soon as possible," he said.

His comments echoed those of British Prime Minister Tony Blair who bluntly told Milosevic, "You lost. Go."

European Commission President Romano Prodi also urged Milosevic to respect the will of the Yugoslav people.

He congratulated Kostunica and said Europe was ready to help the opposition "rebuild a democratic Serbia."

"I congratulate Mr Kostunica and the democratic opposition in Serbia on their victory. Everybody recognises that except Mr Milosevic. They have won despite all the efforts that were made and are still being made to ignore the will of the people," Prodi said in a statement.

U.S. President Bill Clinton dismissed the Yugoslav government's plan for a run-off election as an apparent attempt to steal a fair election.

"It certainly appears from a distance that they had a free election and somebody's trying to take it away from them," Clinton said at the White House.

"The government's official election commission has no credibility whatever."

Russia's position was less clear as it called for Yugoslavia to be left to put its own house in order.

"The Yugoslav people should be completely free to express their will without any internal or external pressure," Interfax news agency quoted Foreign Minster Igor Ivanov as saying.

In-Depth Specials -- Yugoslav Elections
Yugoslav State-run TV announces opposition lead
September 26, 2000
Chronology of Milosevic rule in Yugoslavia
September 25, 2000
European press raises question mark over Yugoslav elections
September 25, 2000
Milosevic declared winner in Montenegro
September 26, 2000
EU offers carrot to Yugoslavian voters
September 19, 2000

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
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