Milosevic 'may be tried in Serbia'

Milosevic may face indictment and trial in Serbia

ZAGREB, Croatia -- Ousted Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic may be tried in Serbia in co-operation with the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague, a Serbian opposition leader was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

Zarko Korac, one of the leaders of 18-party Democratic Opposition of Serbia, told Globus weekly that tribunal president Claude Jorda had said he would not rule out the possibility of Milosevic being tried in Serbia.

Jorda had said last week that he did not know when Milosevic could be tried but did not dismiss sentiment in Belgrade that he should be tried locally.

Korac, who is expected to become the foreign minister in the new federal government of Yugoslavia, said that most Serbian politicians feared that the populace, although highly critical of Milosevic, would not look favourably on his extradition now.

"But no one is saying that Milosevic is not going to face a trial and his own responsibility."

Milosevic was forced to concede defeat in the September 24 presidential election amid mass protests two weeks ago.

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Korac had said that Milosevic might be indicted and tried in Serbia for rigging the elections and ordering police to shoot at protesters.

Tribunal officials said they would welcome a trial in Belgrade as a first step towards putting Milosevic into custody but expressed doubt that Belgrade was ready to indict him for war crimes or conduct any such trial in a manner acceptable to the tribunal.

Milosevic's extradition has been demanded by western nations and the failure to do so could prove a stumbling block in what has proved a speedy rapprochement with the international community.

In a more immediate setback in his consolidation of power after 13 years of Milosevic's rule Kostunica has failed to persuade the leader of the country's junior republic, Montenegro, to take part in a federal government.

Milo Djukanovic boycotted the Serbian elections

Kostunica visited the republic for talks with the pro-Western President Milo Djukanovic on Tuesday.

While applauding the democratic changes that have taken place in Serbia, Djukanovic said he would not take part in national institutions until Serbia and Montenegro redefine their relationship.

Struggling to put together new institutions Kostunica also appears unable to overcome resistance from Djukanovic, to accepting one of his Montenegrin rivals as a new federal prime minister.

Yugoslavia's constitution says if the Yugoslav president is from Serbia -- as is the case with Kostunica -- the prime minister must be from Montenegro. Since Djukanovic boycotted the September 24 elections, the post will go to his rivals from the Socialist People's Party.

With the federation's future at stake, a close ally of Kostunica, Zoran Djindjic, outlined a tentative plan to keep the two constituent republics together while both maintain virtual sovereignty.

It will be a form "between federation and confederation," under the name of "Serbia and Montenegro," Djindjic said in a television interview late Tuesday.

Dropping the name "Yugoslavia," Serbia and Montenegro would manage their affairs independently and retain only a common currency, defence and diplomatic representation, Djindjic said.

But, the vice premier of Montenegro's government, Dragisa Burzan, told the Austrian paper Die Presse that "we are sticking by the goal of independence."

Kostunica, who has endorsed a new relationship between the republics but not full independence for Montenegro, appeared unruffled by Tuesday's setback.

"Just the fact that I came to Montenegro today ... to visit Montenegro's president and prime minister speaks for itself," he said.

Next week Kostunica is to meet the heads of state and prime ministers from Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Romania, Bosnia and Croatia in Skopje it was announced on Wednesday.

It will be the first face-to-face meeting between a Yugoslav leader and heads of neighbouring Balkan states since Milosevic came to power more than 10 years ago and there are high hopes that his departure will lead to a quick inflow of aid and investment to the region.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Government of Montengro

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