Milosevic back on TV

Milosevic vanished after he was toppled in October

The former Yugoslav President, Slobodan Milosevic, has made a surprise television appearance - his first since conceding electoral defeat on 6 October.

The state television channel Yu-Info showed Mr Milosevic addressing Socialist Party officials ahead of a party congress on Saturday. He told them it was vital that they show unity.

Since his defeat at the polls, Mr Milosevic, who is still the Socialist Party leader, has had almost no public profile. He was ousted in a mass uprising following the victory of reformer Vojislav Kostunica in the presidential elections.

But he is reported to have attended several Socialist Party meetings, and correspondents say his television appearance may suggest he has no plans to bow out of Yugoslav politics.

Attack on political foes

Mr Milosevic, indicted as a war criminal by the international tribunal in The Hague, lashed out at his opponents, accusing them of fomenting discord in the party's ranks.

The Socialists hope to exploit divisions in Mr Kostunica's coalition

"All our opponents are trying with all their might to make this congress the congress of arguments, disintegration and disorientation," he said.

According to Yu-Info - a station widely regarded as having close links to Mr Milosevic's entourage - there was strong support for him to be re-elected as Socialist Party leader at the congress.

Socialist Party officials say he is hoping that support for the new ruling democratic coalition will fade as Yugoslavs face a bleak winter of economic hardship.

Milosevic rallying cry

Mr Milosevic insisted the party could do well in parliamentary elections in Serbia scheduled for 23 December.

One of Mr Milosevic's Belgrade residences was hit by Nato - but he has others

"If the congress is a congress of unity and transmits that message to the public as well, the consequences in the elections on the 23rd will be positive," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying.

According to Zoran Lilic, who resigned from the Socialist Party last month, Mr Milosevic "is not giving up politics".

The former Yugoslav leader is "considering his best possible survival options, and counting on things going downhill" for the democratic movement which toppled him, said Mr Lilic, quoted by the Associated Press news agency.

Secluded villa

Mr Milosevic is reported to be living in a spacious villa in the exclusive Dedinje district of Belgrade, protected by dozens of loyal, well-armed paramilitary troops.

Western governments insist there can be no political role for Mr Milosevic, whom they accuse of masterminding Serb aggression in the wars which devastated former Yugoslavia.

Mr Milosevic was flanked at the party meeting by Serbian President Milan Milutinovic, who has also been indicted on war crimes charges by the UN tribunal, and party general secretary Zoran Andjelkovic, a former governor of Kosovo.

Yu-Info said the meeting took place on Monday in Belgrade, but gave no further details.