World

Serbia: Assassination Bid?

October 4, 1999 / 10:57 AM EDT / AP

One of Serbia’s top opposition leaders claimed a highway collision that injured him and killed four others was an attempt on his life, according to newspaper reports Monday.

Vuk Draskovic, head of the Serbian Renewal Movement, was in a convoy of vehicles with his wife and a group of prominent opposition party members when a truck traveling in the opposite direction hit two of the three vehicles. The crash took place Sunday about 25 miles southwest of the Yugoslav capital, Belgrade.

Draskovic said the truck swerved in front of the two cars. According to the newspaper reports, the truck driver escaped and police were looking for him.

Draskovic's close aide and brother-in-law, Veselin Boskovic, was killed, along with security adviser Zvonko Osmajlic and two bodyguards. Draskovic said he suffered scratches and bruises.

“It was an assassination attempt,” he told the newspapers Glas and Blic. “Let those who did this think hard about what will happen to them.”

Borovic and other witnesses said the car carrying the bodyguards exploded in flames on impact and the victims were trapped inside.

At Serbian Renewal Movement headquarters in downtown Belgrade, the party's flag flew at half-staff, and photographs of those who died were posted at the party entrance hall as people wept. The funerals were scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.