US cautious on Milosevic

US policy over Yugoslav elections remains undecided

By BBC's Paul Reynolds in Washington

The American reaction to the Yugoslav election events has been to condemn President Slobodan Milosevic and the announced results.

The US is playing a slightly more cautious hand than some of its European allies.

Speaking after the run-off had been announced, President Clinton used words like "seemed clear" and "appeared" when he talked of the opposition having won the vote.

He was not as forceful as the Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Speaking to a Senate committee, Mrs Albright spoke of the opposition having won a sweeping endorsement at all levels.

'Highly suspect'

Milosevic is under international pressure to step down

The spokesmen for the White House and the State Department reflected their leader's tone with the White House calling the second round decision "highly suspect".

On the other hand, the State Department came out strongly with phrases like "fraudulent" and "manipulation".

Whether the differing language reflects any division about policy is not clear.

What is notable is that the US has refrained from calling for Mr Milosevic to step down immediately or from saying that sanctions should be lifted in advance of a change of government.

White House spokesman Joe Lockhart indicated that this caution reflected a desire not to get out ahead of the Yugoslav opposition itself.

But if that opposition does take a lead on calling for a firmer line, Washington will probably follow suit.