Yugoslav Opposition Calls a General Strike

B E L G R A D E, Yugoslavia, Sept. 28 -- The Yugoslav opposition today ordered a general strike to ratchet up pressure on President Slobodan Milosevic to step down.

Opposition leaders said the general strike would involve shutting down schools, offices and other public institutions until the president recognized their election victory and stepped aside.

“We will call people onto the streets and tell them not toleave until he gives up power,” said opposition politician Zoran.

It was the first indication of how the opposition hopes tomaintain pressure on Milosevic to leave office and make way for the opposition candidate.

Making a public appearance for the first time since losing Sunday’S election, Milosevic was shown on Yugoslav television today, attending meetings with his Socialist Party and its coalition partners, the Yugoslav Left and theMontenegrin Socialist Peoples’ Party in Belgrade.

The broadcast was seen as a clear sign that he intended to defy international calls to step down.

Earlier today, the influential Serbian Orthodox Church said it recognized Kostunica as Yugoslavia’s new president-elect.

In a statement, the head of the Holy Synod, Patriarch Pavle, called for a change of power in a “peaceful and dignified way.”

Runoff Standoff

The opposition push for a strike follows a ruling by the State Election Commission that Milosevic and Kostunica must undergo a second round of elections.

The commission’s figures showed Kostunica finishing first in Sunday’s elections with 48.96 percent, leaving Milosevic with 38.62 percent.

But the opposition, claims Kostunica won 52.54 percent to Milosevic’s 32.01 percent and says it will boycott the runoff.

Under Yugoslav law, Kostunica needs a 50 percent majority to win outright power.

The runoff election is set for Oct. 8.

The U.S. has repeatedly supported opposition claims that Kostunica has won the elections. Speaking at a news briefing in Washington today, State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said there was no basis for a runoff. “This question of a second round is not an issue. The issue was who won,” Reeker said, adding that the Yugoslav electoral authorities had“absolutely no credibility.”