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DATE=09/27/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=YUGO ELECTIONS (L UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-267164

BYLINE=EVE CONANT

DATELINE=KOSOVSKA MITROVICA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// EDS: THIS REPORT UPDATES CR 2-267129 / WITH ACTS ///

INTRO: Opposition leaders are rejecting an announcement by Yugoslav authorities that a crucial presidential race against incumbent Slobodan Milosevic will move into a second round. V-O-A Correspondent Eve Conant in Kosovska Mitrovica reports the opposition says it won outright in Sunday's vote and is urging President Milosevic to accept defeat after more than a decade in power.

TEXT: Opposition leader Vojislav Kostunica says he and his supporters will not accept a second round of voting. "Our victory was obvious," he says, "and we will defend it by all non-violent means."

In a long-awaited announcement, the Yugoslav State Election Committee said neither Mr. Kostunica nor President Milosevic had won enough votes [a simple majority] in the first round on Sunday, although it said Mr. Kostunica was in the lead with 48 percent of the vote to Mr. Milosevic's 40 percent.

Mr. Kostunica is calling for demonstrations in the streets of Belgrade, saying the idea of a second-round election is -- in his words -- "political fraud and blatant stealing of votes."

Mr. Kostunica's representative in Kosovo, Marko Jaksic, says the opposition's figures show their candidate beat Mr. Milosevic by approximately 57 percent to 35 percent.

/// JAKSIC ACT - IN SERBIAN - FADE UNDER ///

Mr. Jaksic says, "We will go out onto the streets and call all citizens to join us. We will fight on principle. We cannot allow these elections to be stolen."

The state election committee said turnout was 64 percent; opposition officials put the figure much higher -- 74 percent. By Yugoslav law, a candidate needs to win more than 50 percent of the vote for an immediate victory.

There were widespread allegations of fraud in the first round, but even so, opposition leaders said it was the high turnout that gave them a victory over Mr. Milosevic.

Supporters of the Yugoslav leader say the opposition's claim to have won the election is a simple lie, and that the opposition is the side trying to rig the vote.

/// VOX-POP ACT - IN SERBIAN -- FADE UNDER ///

This man says. "Slobodan Milosevic will be president for as long as he is alive, for as long as he exists. No one -- not Bill Clinton, nor British leader Tony Blair -- can remove him from power."

President Milosevic, who has been indicted by a United Nations court for alleged war crimes in Kosovo, has ignored calls both from home and abroad to accept a Kostunica victory and step down peacefully. Western leaders have promised to end sanctions and to end Yugoslavia's political isolation if he leaves office.

There is concern that the announcement of a second-round election on October Eighth could give Mr. Milosevic time to create more favorable conditions the next time he faces the voters. After pushing through constitutional amendments allowing himself to run for a second term, President Milosevic called the election almost one year early.

He has overturned unfavorable election results in the past, and critics say he can be expected to do anything necessary to stay in power. But his challenger, the soft-spoken law professor, Mr. Kostunica, is urging restraint, saying the opposition will avoid any careless moves that could raise tension in society and lead to what he describes as "unfavorable circumstances." (Signed)

NEB/EC/WTW/JWH