KOSTUNICA CLAIMS VICTORY

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005445133
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: August 25, 2010
• Case Number: F-2009-00733
• Publication Date: September 25, 2000

701Ps4 11n,TIt
25 September 2000
07:00 EDT
Spot Comm 4
Kostunica Claims Victory
The opposition candidate and his supporters are euphoric over election results while the
Milosevic regime appears disorganized and in disarray. Kostunica claims to have won 54
percent to less than 34 percent for Milosevic. Kostunica, however, also says he is willing to
go to a second round against Milosevic, clearly confident he would once again emerge
victorious.
? Meanwhile, the official media claims Milosevic is ahead 44 percent to 41 for
Kostunica-even spokesmen for the party of Mira Markovic, Milosevic's hard-
line wife, have dropped earlier claims that Milosevic is winning an absolute
majority of the votes.
? Independent media outlets claim the regime is blocking several opposition
Internet web sites.
? British Foreign Secretary Cook said this morning that Milosevic has been beaten
by a "massive" majority and is a "beaten, broken-backed" President.
The Federal Election Commission suspended the vote count last night and evicted
opposition monitors. Press reports claim it resumed work about an hour ago, but it was not
clear whether the opposition monitors were back at their stations. The regime may attempt
to delay announcing official results until it can agree on a course of action.
The opposition also is faring well in local elections, especially in southern Serbia, where
opposition to Milosevic has been growing since the Kosovo Air Campaign. No results
have yet been reported in Serbia's three largest cities, Belgrade, Nis, and Novi Sad.
? Press reports indicate sporadic violence and small confrontations between
protesters and police, but so far demonstrations remain orderly and fairly small,
while police continue to show relative restraint toward opposition crowds.
? The parliamentary elections have been virtually ignored by both sides and
 officials so far have not projected the makeup of the new legislature.
There are no indications of movements by police or troops that would indicate a regime
intention to declare a state of emergency or martial law.