Serbia group seeks safety in registration

One of the main groups in Serbia to organise demonstrations against President Slobodan Milosevic and his Socialist Party is trying to establish itself as a legal organisation.

The student-based Otpor -- or 'resistance' -- movement has held an inaugural meeting as a public association, so it can register with the Justice Ministry in Belgrade.

Correspondents say its action has been prompted by reports that the authorities are to try to introduce new legislation shortly against unregistered organisations which, like Optor, have been branded terrorist.

A series of arrests of Otpor activists in a number of towns is reported to have continued. Otpor is inviting people across Serbia to sign its founding document as a further sign of resistance.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service