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Milosevic concedes opposition win in second largest city
January 8, 1997
Web posted at: 4:00 p.m. ESTBELGRADE, Yugoslavia (CNN) -- In a major concession to its opponents, the Serbian government Wednesday announced that the opposition Zajedno (Together) coalition won the November elections in Serbia's second largest city.
President Slobodan Milosevic's Socialist Party annulled November 17 election results in Nis and 14 other towns, sparking a wave of pro-democracy demonstrations now in their seventh week.
The opposition welcomed the government announcement but called the move inadequate and said that street demonstrations will continue.
Last week, the government said opposition candidates had won election victories in nine Belgrade districts and three smaller cities.
Street protests continued on Wednesday, the 51st day of the demonstrations, despite government efforts to stop them. Protesters again used their automobiles to circumvent a no-marching edict, pretending that the vehicles were broken down throughout the city.
The protesters were also orchestrating a campaign to shut down government operations by flooding the offices with telephone calls.
The Zajedno coalition wants Milosevic to recognize what it says were opposition victories in many major municipalities, including the capital, Belgrade. The demonstrations are expected to continue, despite the unexpected announcement by the Serbian government.
The official Serbian news agency Tanjug said the decision to award the victory to Zajedno came after a Justice Ministry inquiry, which was ordered by Milosevic late last month.
Tanjug said the inquiry determined that Zajedno candidates won 37 seats in the city government's assembly, to the Socialists' 32. The Serbian Radical Party took one seat.
The news agency said that there had been "irregularities" in the voting, the government's stated reason for voiding the election result in November, but that Zajedno proved the winner.
Correspondent Brent Sadler and Reuters contributed to this report.
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- Serbian protesters block city center with cars - January 5, 1997
- Serb government concedes 9 elections to opposition - January 3, 1997
- Serb protesters festive amid signs of military backing - December 29, 1996
- Belgrade protesters resume marches after comrade's funeral - December 28, 1996
- Investigative team rules local Serbian elections valid - December 27, 1996
- Ignoring police ban, protesters gather in Belgrade - December 26, 1996
- Protesters return to Belgrade streets after violence - December 25, 1996
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