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DATE=10-4-00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-267513

TITLE=U-S YUGOSLAVIA (L-UPDATE)

BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: President Clinton is strongly backing demonstrators in Belgrade who are demanding Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic accept defeat in last month's elections. Correspondent Deborah Tate reports from the White House that Mr. Clinton says the United States has no plans to get involved militarily.

TEXT: Mr. Clinton says the United States supports the will of the Serbian people, who he says are trying to get their country back after an attempt to rob them of their vote.

// CLINTON ACT //

All we want for the Serbian people is what we want for people everywhere. The right to freely choose their own leaders.

// END ACT //

The Yugoslav opposition maintains their candidate, Vosilav Kostunica, won a majority in last month's election, a vote nullified Wednesday by the Yugoslav Constitutional Court. U-S officials say the court's decision is another effort by Mr. Milosevic to overturn the election and remain in power.

Speaking to reporters after an education event, Mr. Clinton predicted the demonstrators would prevail. But he said the United States would not get involved militarily if the Yugoslav government cracked down on protesters.

/// CLINTON ACT ///

I do not believe it is an appropriate case for military intervention. I do not believe the United States should say or do anything that would only strengthen Mr. Milosevic's hand. The people of Serbia have made their opinion clear. They did it when they voted peacefully and quietly. And now they are doing it in the streets because there has been an attempt to rob them of their vote. I think if the world community will just stand for freedom, stand for democracy, stand for the will of the people, I think that will prevail. It did all over Eastern Europe.

/// END ACT ///

A NATO bombing campaign last year forced Serb troops out of Kosovo in an effort to end what the international community said was a campaign of ethnic cleansing against ethnic Albanians in the Yugoslav province. U-S troops are taking part in a 45-thousand-member U-N peacekeeping force in Kosovo.

Earlier White House spokesman Jake Siewart said Mr. Milosevic's support appears to be 'crumbling.' Referring to internationally-broadcast television footage of protesters taking over control of the parliament building in Belgrade, Mr. Siewart said the pictures are 'a stirring reminder' that the Yugoslav leader has lost the support of the Serbian people. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAT/RAE