(29 Dec 1996) English/Nat
Around 50-thousand Serbian demonstrators defied a police ban and turned out to rally against President Slobodan Milosevic, making it the 42nd day of consecutive protests over his annulment of municipal elections.
Riot police were bused into the capital from across the republic to stop Belgraders from marching in the streets.
The opposition coalition Zajedno, which means Together, accused Milosevic of resorting to a state of emergency and police terror in a bid to snuff out opposition protests.
For the 42nd consecutive day, pro-democracy protestors turned out in the Serbian capital to rally against President Slobodan Milosevic.
Around 50-thousand people, undeterred by the below freezing weather conditions, gathered to protest against Milosevic's annulment of the November 17th municipal elections.
Since the opposition were banned from marching through the streets of Belgrade on December 24th, they have been forced to hold their rallies in the main city square.
Around 2-thousand riot police were bused to the capital from all over Belgrade. However, unlike past marches they maintained a low profile.
Opposition leader Vuk Draskovic, surrounded by his supporters, claimed Milosevic had backed himself into a corner.
SOUNDBITE:
"This mission (O-S-C-E) turned tables on Mr Milosevic. I am not sure he will respect this (that the Opposition were in fact the victors in the November 17 elections.) I'm very afraid he will decide to provoke a double war against Europeans and Americans and internal war against the democratic opposition in Serbia."
SUPERCAPTION: Vuk Draskovic, Opposition leader
Such large rallies have become part of daily life in the Serbian capital with the people determined to force the government to recognise the local election results.
The opposition's claim has been further reinforced by the finding of the O-S-C-E (Organisation for the Security and Co-operation in Europe) which concluded that the Serbian government should recognise the municipal election results.
On Sunday, the opposition, spurred on by the O-S-C-E's conclusion accused the government of rampant vote rigging and demanded its victories be reinstated in 14 cities including Belgrade.
In a statement issued before the rally, Zajedno accused Milosevic of resorting to a state of emergency and police terror in a bid to snuff out opposition protests.
Western governments have warned Milosevic he will get no financial aid unless he concedes electoral defeats and undertakes democratic reforms.
Milosevic, determined to keep 50 years of unbroken rule by his party intact, is expected to respond to the O-S-C-E report in the coming week.
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