(24 Sep 2000) Serbo-Croat/Nat
It is the biggest challenge ever to Slobodan Milosevic's rule - on Sunday voters began choosing a new president and parliament.
An independent monitoring group reported major voting irregularities by midday that included opposition representatives being kicked out of polling stations or not allowed to inspect voters' lists, voting boxes and ballots.
Police were present in front of many polling stations, and there was public - instead of secret - voting in southern regions of Serbia, the group said.
In Podgorica, the capital of independence-minded republic of Montenegro where its leaders urged for a boycott of the vote, Yugoslav army patrolled near the polling stations.
Momir Bulatovic, the Yugoslav Prime Minister and Milosevic ally said he believed Milosevic would step down if Kostunica won but he added that he thought Milosevic would win in the first round.
But many voters in Montenegro considered the vote a waste of time and observers spoke of major irregularities.
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-Croat)
"Of course we want to create a democratic society and believe it or not - Milosevic is a democrat and will accept the election result."
SUPER CAPTION: Momir Bulatovic, Yugoslav Prime Minister
SOUNDBITE (Serbo-Croat)
"Sure I will vote, these elections are very important and every citizen of Montenegro should vote."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpops
SOUNDBITE (Serbo-Croat)
"This is a farce, I can't have any insight into who voted and under which number."
SUPER CAPTION: Observer of Democratic Opposition of Serbia
SOUNDBITE (Serbo-Croat)
"I believe this is a pure failure, a waste of time, only this morning they displayed the numbers of the polling stations so people don't know where to go, now you have ECMM European Community Monitor Mission cars in the streets."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpops
SOUNDBITE (English)
"We' re not accredited monitors and therefore we cannot go to the polling stations, but we can of course talk to the members of the electoral board if of course they wish to do so."
SUPER CAPTION: Michael Franckland, Deputy Head of the Regional ECMM of Montenegro
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