Word: serbia
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...count at most polling stations, put Kostunica's share at more than 52 percent, accusing Milosevic of massaging the figures in order to play for time. Kostunica has resolutely vowed to boycott any runoff. Now, though, his supporters will have to make good on their threats to bring Serbia to a standstill with a general strike and street protests until Milosevic steps down...
...leaving, but after last year's bombings they don't exactly wield much influence in Belgrade. Their best bet for diplomatic leverage remains Moscow, which played the key role in persuading the Serb strongman to back down in Kosovo. Diplomatic efforts are reportedly afoot to coax Milosevic into leaving Serbia and seeking asylum either in Russia or Belarus to avoid prosecution in the Hague. But that may be overstating his immediate crisis - after all, Kostunica has stated that he's not interested in sending Milosevic for trial as a war criminal (a demand that has little resonance in Serbia...
...protests may even prompt him to declare an emergency and call of any further elections. But his acknowledgement of defeat could also be a prelude to a new survival strategy, in which Milosevic cedes the presidency but uses his majority in the federal parliament and his power base inside Serbia to hamstring a Kostunica government...
...plenty of negotiation in the weeks that lie ahead. Even if Kostunica becomes president, Milosevic still controls the majority faction in parliament, and the opposition won't be able to form a government without his approval. He may in fact still be the most powerful politician in Serbia. But still, the psychological bridge he's crossed shouldn't be underestimated. From now on, what Serbia is facing is a political battle, not a physical...
...People here are calm but determined. We're still waiting for the official result of the election, which is now expected to be released only on Thursday. But the opposition plans to hold a huge rally in Belgrade on Wednesday, declaring victory and inviting Serbia to celebrate. Then, the next day, Milosevic will give his own version of what happened in the vote on Sunday...