Opposition ahead in Yugoslav elections

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (CNN) -- Preliminary results from Yugoslavia's elections show President Slobodan Milosevic losing to opposition candidate Vojislav Kostunica by a margin that would force a second round of voting if it continues.

The opposition said Tuesday night, however, that it would not take part in a run-off with Milosevic.

State television reported returns released by the federal electoral commission from 10,153 of the country's 10,500 polling stations showed Kostunica with 48.22 percent of the vote and Milosevic with 40.23 percent.

This would force a run-off on October 8 because neither candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote.

Kostunica's forces dispute that count, claiming totals from 98.5 percent of the vote show their candidate with a victory margin of 54.66 percent to 35.01 percent for Milosevic, an absolute majority that would stand without a run-off.

IN-DEPTH Yugoslavia Decides 2000   • Overview   • The road ahead   • Key players   • Party profiles   • Shrinking of Yugoslavia   • Maps/At-a-glance     VIDEO GALLERY Watch video from CNN's Yugoslavia election coverage     IMAGE GALLERY Images from the historic vote     MESSAGE BOARD Peace in the Balkans     RESOURCES Yugoslavia election information

Zarko Korac, of the opposition Social Democratic Union, described the plan for a second round of voting as "so cheap." He said Milosevic was "fighting for his political survival."

Zoran Djindjic, Kostunica's campaign manager, urged the opposition to remain calm.

"The facts are in our hands," he said. "Tomorrow we will see where 400,000 of Kostunica's votes have disappeared and where Mr. Milosevic got his additional 200,000 votes."

The returns announced on state television, controlled by Milosevic's government, showed Kostunica with 2,428,714 votes and Milosevic with 2,026,478.

In Montenegro, final results from the electoral commission gave Milosevic 91.05 percent of the vote, and Kostunica 5.5 percent.

However this was with a 28 percent turnout with a total number of votes for Milosevic amounting to 111, 595 as against "millions" of voters turning out in Serbia.

CNN's Nic Robertson said although it was a "conclusive" victory for Milosevic in Montenegro, the majority stayed away from the polls.

The final Yugoslav election results had been scheduled for release on Thursday night, but the opposition is trying to speed up the timetable.

The electoral commission first receives results via electronic balloting, then ballot boxes are brought to the commission headquarters inside the federal parliament, and ballots are tabulated manually.

The commission is made up of nine permanent members appointed by the Yugoslav Parliament, which is controlled by Milosevic's ally. Two additional delegates are appointed by each party contesting the elections.

Djindjic told CNN earlier he believed electoral commission members were "trying to manipulate the elections and they are waiting for orders from Milosevic and they are trying to force the second round."

Once official results are announced, parties have 24 hours to issue an appeal. The appeal is then forwarded to the Constitutional Court. Its ruling is then sent back to the Federal Electoral Commission, whose chairman has the final word.

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Socialist Party (Slobodan Milosevic)
DOS opposition alliance
Democratic Party (Vojislav Kostunica)
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Republic of Montenegro

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