European press raises question mark over Yugoslav elections

LONDON, England (CNN) -- European press coverage of the Yugoslav elections reflects the West's doubts about whether voting in the Balkan nation was really fair. Almost with one voice, newspaper headlines speak of voting irregularities, conflicting victory claims by the candidates and the threat of more violence in the troubled region.

"Fraud marks elections in Yugoslavia," reads the front page headline on Spain's El Pais daily. The paper comments on the complexity of the "mega-elections" in Yugoslavia and expresses its doubt about just how democratic they really are -- particularly in light of the "authoritarian and quasi-dictatorial" nature of the Milosevic regime.

Italy's Corriere Della Sera describes the Yugoslav vote as a kind of "challenge from Belgrade." The paper says Milosevic has skillfully played on feelings of nationalism in Serbia sentiments which the paper describes as "in part, historically justified."

The daily argues that Milosevic's strategy remains unclear for the moment. He may "lose Yugoslavia but hold on to Serbia, lose control of the government but keep police behind him, and wield significant power with the 100.000 Kosovo Serbs, whatever the outcome of the vote," says the paper.

Le Monde dedicates much space to the main opposition candidate Vojislav Kostunica, whom it describes in its banner as a "Patriot -- but first and foremost a democrat," who has become the main hope for all those who want Milosevic out.

"In the eyes of a good part of his fellow citizens, as well as of the international community, he (Kostunica) is the incarnation of a legitimate authority, namely the authority of the 'other Serbia'," says Le Monde.

"Is the endgame near for the Yugoslav President, Slobodan Milosevic?" asks the British newspaper The Independent in an article that takes the pulse of voters in the northern Montenegro town of Kolasin. "The divisions in Kolasin run through every aspect of life. For the past year, the town has even had two firebrigades," reports the paper in its description of Balkan divisions.

The Irish Times raises a cautious note about the threat of renewed violence, particularly in light of the fact that Milosevic faces a vote that "threatens to end his decade in power. "Even those confident of opposition victory at the ballot box are terrified that Milosevic will not step down without bloodshed," it says.

The German paper Frankfurter Allgemeine focuses on election irregularities, titling its story "Regime will not accept opposition victory." The paper speaks of "chaotic" voting in Yugoslavia and reports on an incident at a polling station in southern Serbia, where "one man cast ballots for himself and another six alleged family members."

Switzerland's Neue Zuercher Zeitung disqualified the Yugoslav vote as "grotesque." The paper underlines the sad irony that, while Milosevic publicly proclaims to work "for Yugoslavia," he effectively has mustered all available forces to keep him in power.

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