Milosevic Foe Calls For Vote

A key opponent of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic is insisting on early elections and criticizing opposition rivals for seeking civil war.

Elections are "the only realistic concept that could lead to the fall of this regime," Vuk Draskovic told a news conference Tuesday. "I am sure Milosevic would lose such a vote," he said.

Draskovic blasted plans by other opposition parties to organize an all-out uprising against Milosevic in the next two months, saying it could only lead to civil war and help Milosevic stay in power.

But he could not offer a clear strategy on how to force the autocratic Milosevic into organizing a democratic election, which would have to include loosening the reins on state-run media and allowing international election monitors into the country.

"We can either count rifles or ballots," Draskovic said. "The opposition must fight for conditions for democratic elections. We can demonstrate, but only to demand democratic elections."

His demand for early elections rather than Milosevic's resignation and the formation of a transitional government has split Serbia's fractious opposition parties. Their failure to unite in the past has ruined other chances to oust Milosevic.

Draskovic's main rivals, Zoran Djindjic and his Alliance for Change, have spearheaded anti-Milosevic rallies throughout Serbia since June.

In a major show of discontent, an estimated 150,000 people attended an opposition rally in the capital of Belgrade last Thursday. The Belgraders jeered Draskovic, who proposed an early ballot.

The issue of opposition unity was discussed Tuesday in Montenegro between Djindjic, former Gen. Vuk Obradovic, and U.S. Balkan envoy James Dobbins.

A member of the opposition delegation, Vladan Batic, told the Beta news agency that the Serbs told Dobbins they would work to overcome divisions within the anti-Milosevic movement.

Draskovic, once the most charismatic of all opposition leaders, lost much of his support when he joined Milosevic's government earlier this year. He was kicked out in May for urging a compromise with the West during NATO's bombing of Yugoslavia.

The rival Alliance for Change has gained strength since NATO took over Serbia's Kosovo province in June.

On Monday, Djindjic said his group plans to increase pressure on Milosevic by organizing more protests, and he dismissed Draskovic's accusations that the protests could lead to civil war in Serbia.

Djindjic said Milosevic must resign or Serbia would plunge into chaos, hunger and political disintegration. He rejected the idea of a Milosevic-organized election, saying the government would rig the vote.

Some opposition officials fear that Milosevic wants to lure the opposition into early elections before he loses any more popular support and that Draskovic is helping him. Milosevic's ruling Socialists last week indicated they would push for earl elections as soon as November.

On Tuesday, a group of Yugoslav army generals reiterated earlier warnings that the army would intervene if there was violence.