(25 Sep 2000) English/Nat
Tens of thousands of jubilant opposition supporters have been celebrating their apparent electoral victory over President Slobodan Milosevic.
Milosevic is seeking to force a runoff despite calls to accept the end of his 13 years in power.
Chanting "Kill Yourself Slobodan and Save Serbia," more than 50-thousand people jammed a downtown Belgrade square to celebrate the purported victory of the pro-Western opposition challenger, Vojislav Kostunica.
Opposition leaders addressed the supporters from the stage and music bands played favourite anti-regime songs.
Kostunica, a 56-year-old law professor, was already claiming victory in Sunday's ballot, based on his party's unofficial results.
The Democratic Opposition of Serbia party claimed that with 65 percent of polling stations counted, Kostunica was leading with 55.3 percent, compared to Milosevic's 34.37.
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo Croat)
" With 65 percent of the votes counted and regarding the trends we have been watching since last night, we can say that we have won all the elections with a wide margin and
there is nothing that can put in question our victory."
SUPER CAPTION: Cedomir Jovanovic, Opposition Spokesman
Opposition claims were based on reports from its poll watchers stationed voting stations.
All political parties are allowed to have representatives present when votes are counted locally at the 10-thousand precincts.
Poll watchers sign an affidavit accepting the count and are free to report the results to their national headquarters.
The opposition claimed its margin was so wide that Milosevic could not convince the public that he had won.
The outcome may turn more on public perceptions than on whatever the election commission announces.
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