(24 Sep 2000) Serbo-Croat/Eng/Nat
XFA
In the biggest challenge ever to Slobodan Milosevic's rule, voters began choosing a new president and parliament on Sunday in a historic ballot which polls indicate the Yugoslav leader may lose.
Milosevic's supporters and opponents accused the other of plotting to rig the vote.
Only a limited number of opposition officials were present at the more than 10,000 polling stations and in state-appointed committees set up to process the ballots.
The government barred E-U monitors but invited a few observers from China, Russia and other friendly countries, as well as Western European leftists.
The opposition plans its own vote count based on reports from its poll-watchers. It urged supporters to follow the returns Sunday night on video screens in major cities.
As the polling station open in Montenegro, observers from the Democratic Opposition of Serbia party complained of irregularities.
Federal troops loyal to Slobodan Milosevic are guarding polling stations in
Montenegro despite protests from the republic's pro-Western leadership which
is boycotting the ballot.
However, Yugoslavia's Prime Minister and Milosevic's long-serving ally, Predrag Bulatovic, claimed the election was free and fair.
He also sought to play down speculation that Milosevic is deliberately provoking a confrontation with Montenegro's pro-western leadership in an effort to cling onto power.
The Montenegrin national was speaking after casting his vote in Podgorica.
SOUNDBITE (Serbo-Croat)
"Absolutely, there is not even the slightest possibility for conflict in Montenegro. There will be peace in Montenegro and Yugoslavia."
SUPER CAPTION: Predrag Bulatovic, Premier of Yugoslavia
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)
"Obviously we're here monitoring events in Montenegro and we do it all the time."
SUPER CAPTION: Michael Franckland, Deputy Head of the Regional ECMM of Montenegro
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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