(11 Oct 2000) Eng/Serbo-Croat/Nat
Allies of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic have struck back against attempts by pro-democracy forces to end their authority, announcing they're reimposing control over police and resisting attempts to cleanse the top military leadership.
A senior member of Milosevic's Socialist party announced Serbia's pro-Milosevic prime minister Mirko Marjanovic was taking direct control of the 100-thousand-strong police force in Serbia.
It's a sign Milosevic's allies will try to hold on to their power in the wake of President Vojislav Kostunica's election, resisting reform.
Nonetheless, U-S diplomats are in Belgrade indicating they will be moving quickly to reestablish relations there.
Vojislav Kostunica, newly-elected president of Yugoslavia, met the country's top military brass in Belgrade on Wednesday.
He addressed the ensemble of senior generals.
But the meeting resulted in a further rebuff to Kostunica, when the generals warned against purging top military echelons appointed by Slobodan Milosevic.
Before he had begun meeting with the army, a key Kostunica aide said the president wanted to replace the current army chief with a former general sacked by Milosevic.
But after the meeting, the army issued a statement cautioning against the "possible negative consequences of increased attacks and attempts to discredit certain individuals of the Yugoslav army."
It's another obstacle in Kostunica's path to creating a democratic, open Yugoslavia, free from the legacy of Milosevic.
Serbia's pro-Milosevic government is also blocking attempts to rid it of allies of Kostunica's predecessor.
Kostunica is president of Yugoslavia, made up both of Serbia and much smaller Montenegro.
In another blow to Kostunica, Serbia's prime minister Mirko Marjanovic will take control of Serbia's police force, an institution which should be at the front of the queue for reform under the new president.
The developments signaled a serious setback to attempts by the pro-democracy forces around Kostunica to impose full authority over key levels of power in Yugoslavia.
Opposition leader Zoran Djindjic, leading efforts to form a new government, had been optimistic about a fresh start for the Serbian government and the Yugoslav military.
The sarcasm in his comments on Thursday revealed a deep regret that change wasn't going to be so easy to instigate.
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-croat)
"I wish him all the best. He (Marjanovic) can take control of the television, police, schooling system, health system, clinical centre, and then he should call us back to tell us what he had done."
SUPER CAPTION: Zoran Djindjic, Democratic Party President
Djindjic had wanted Momcilo Perisic to lead the Yugoslav military in an effort to ensure army loyalty amid resistance by Milosevic's allies to push them from power.
But on the streets of Belgrade, people say they will not hesitate to return to tactics of their own resistance if things don't change quickly.
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-croat)
"I don't agree with it and if we have to go out in the street, we shall, that is the only way to make them go."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop
SOUNDBITE: (Serbo-croat)
"There will be many more victims on their side, they have not recognized the election results at first, they have shown they have no brain, they will see if they don't come to their senses, we shall help them how to realise things."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox pop
O'Brien will arrive in Belgrade on Thursday.
The move was made possible by a change of government here in a popular uprising last week.
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