Socialists re-elect Milosevic

Milosevic's first public appearance since his overthrow

The former Yugoslav President, Slobodan Milosevic, has been re-elected chairman of his Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS).

In a defiant speech to a party congress, Mr Milosevic denounced the mass uprising that forced him from power nearly two months ago.

Thousands celebrated Vojislav Kostunica's victory

Mr Milosevic, the only candidate for the SPS leadership, was re-elected with a vast majority of the votes, a senior party official said.

The United States reacted angrily to his re-election. A spokesman in the Clinton administration said Mr Milosevic had negligible popular support and it was "a desperate attempt by a former dictator to reassert himself".

Mr Milosevic, blamed by the West for his role in four Balkan wars in the last decade, said he had been overthrown by traitors.

He accused Yugoslav media organisations of selling out to the West and called the UN war crimes tribunal "the new Gestapo". Excerpts from his speech were broadcast on Serbian Yu-Info television.

Those who defended the country and were in the country during the war are declared enemies now

Slobodan Milosevic

"Large sums of money are being distributed and significant privileges given to those who should agree to anything against this country: the loss of independence, the secession of Montenegro, Kosovo and Vojvodina, humiliation and extinction of the Serbian people, the extradition of national heroes to the new Gestapo in The Hague."

Mr Milosevic was indicted by the tribunal in The Hague for crimes his forces committed against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

Attack on 'false patriots'

Mr Milosevic said the SPS was the main defender of the Yugoslav state, which was why it was the target of Western attacks.

"The situation is absurd. Those who defended the country and were in the country during the war are declared enemies now," he said. Mr Milosevic and the Socialists lost to Vojislav Kostunica and a pro-democracy alliance in presidential elections in September.

Mr Milosevic said people who had supported Nato's bombing of Yugoslavia last year and "cooperated with the aggressors" were now "appearing in the role of patriots and saviours".

Divided party

The SPS has been reviewing its campaign for next month's parliamentary elections.

Correspondents say it is now riven by divisions and some polls suggest that it may win only 10% of the parliamentary vote.

The meeting was held behind closed doors - a sign of the bitter internal divisions.

At least 20 senior officials have defected from the party since its election defeat.

They accuse the hardline leadership around Mr Milosevic of failing to carry out the radical reforms they believe are necessary for the party's survival.

Back into the limelight

Mr Milosevic has reappeared on state television in the past week leading up to the congress.

After his defeat by Mr Kostunica he disappeared completely from public view, and was reported to be living in a villa on the outskirts of Belgrade, protected by loyal paramilitary bodyguards.

Correspondents say his demeanour on Saturday gave no indication that he intends to withdraw from political life.