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Yugoslav President Refuses to Step Down

Aired September 28, 2000 - 6:06 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BERNARD SHAW: In Yugoslavia, President Slobodan Milosevic remains defiant, confirming Thursday he will take part in runoff elections set for October 8th. The Yugoslav opposition and world leaders say that is unacceptable.

CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hundreds of thousands of Yugoslavs in the streets, a chorus of protest from the outside, and still Slobodan Milosevic doesn't seem to hear.

And as he tries to engineer victory out of defeat, not even his traditional allies back his plan for a second round of elections. While Russia won't pressure Milosevic to step aside, it is calling for lawful change that respects the will of the Yugoslav people.

IGOR IVANOV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Right now it is important that all changes in Yugoslavia must be done in accordance with the law. Any decisions must correspond with Yugoslavia's stability and future interests not only in the Balkan area but also in international arena.

AMANPOUR: Visiting French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine was more direct, saying that he sees no support anymore for Milosevic in the Kremlin and adding that France believes the opposition leader, Vojislav Kostunica, had won Sunday's election. France and the rest of the European community already recognize Kostunica as the legitimate winner.

(on camera): Still, Europe and the United States admit they don't know how to make Milosevic step down. They say they're leaving that in the hands of the Yugoslav people for now. All the West can do is promise rewards once he's gone.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's clear that the people prefer the opposition, and I think that we should all say in unequivocal terms as soon as there is a Democratic government over there the sanctions should be lifted.

AMANPOUR (voice-over): In Belgrade, Kostunica says he won't take part in a second round of voting as Milosevic wants and instead is calling for a general strike to force him out.

The powerful Serbian Orthodox Church backs Kostunica's victory, as does an unlikely source: the ultranationalist Vojislav Seselj, who had formed a coalition government with Milosevic, and is now piling on the pressure for him to leave office.

Christiane Amanpour, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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