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DATE=10/03/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-267393

TITLE=YUGOSLAVIA / ELECTION (L)

BYLINE=EVE CONANT

DATELINE=PRISTINA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Yugoslavia is in its second day of opposition strikes aimed at forcing President Slobodan Milosevic to accept an opposition victory in the September 24th presidential election. But as correspondent Eve Conant reports from Pristina, the protests are not as strong as the opposition had hoped.

TEXT: Workers at Serbia's biggest coal mine remained on strike, despite hours of negotiations with Yugoslavia's army chief who urged them to return to their jobs. Serbia's B-2-92 independent radio said late-night talks between the army chief and strike leaders failed to result in agreement, and the talks broke down by early morning.

There were reports of power cuts in some parts of Serbia. The thousands of miners at the Kolubara mine south of Belgrade are striking in support of what the opposition says was the victory of its presidential candidate, Vojislav Kostunica, in the September 24th elections.

Yugoslavia's election commission has said neither Mr. Kostunica nor President Milosevic won a simple majority and a second round will be held October 8th.

But the protests so far have been weaker than opposition leaders first predicted. As the strike moved into its second day, the blockade had little effect in the capital, Belgrade. Public transport was working, traffic was flowing, and all bridges and roads from the outskirts leading to the center of Belgrade were clear.

Some businesses were shut down and the B-2-92 radio reported that the highway linking Novi Sad and Belgrade was blocked for approximately one-hour. Other reports from the provinces said traffic on several main thoroughfares had ground to a halt.

Opposition leaders have called for general civil disobedience and nationwide strikes to force President Milosevic to accept what they say was Mr. Kostunica's victory.

In a televised address Monday, Mr. Milosevic said if the opposition were to win the presidency, Yugoslavia would, in his words - fall under foreign occupation and inevitably break up.

The opposition candidate, Mr. Kostunica, has rejected a call for a second round, accusing the electoral commission of - fraudulent manipulation of votes. He says protesters will use only non-violent means to demonstrate against Yugoslav authorities, who for now have not used force to quell the protests. (SIGNED)

NEB/EC/KL/RAE