Opposition dismisses Kosovo vote

Polls in Serbian areas were busy

Serbian opposition leaders have dismissed President Slobodan Milosevic's apparent election success in Sunday's Yugoslav elections in Kosovo.

Despite a high turnout of pro-Milosevic supporters in the province, opposition officials believe their numbers are too low to affect the outcome of elections on a national scale.

Early results showed Mr Milosevic with about 75% of the vote.

It is not important if Milosevic wins here because the numbers are so small

Opposition official Milan Savic

But most of Kosovo's Serbs have fled since the war. They account for perhaps 5% of the population of Kosovo, and the majority Albanian community did not vote.

"The main task was to prevent the manipulation of Albanian votes and give the Serbs a chance to vote for whoever they want," said Milan Savic, of the Democratic Opposition Party (DOS)

He said DOS officials had made an inspection of polling stations in ethnic Albanian areas on Sunday and found them mainly closed or deserted.

"It is not important if Milosevic wins here because the numbers are so small," Mr Savic said.

Ballot 'rigged'

But Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe chief Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the poll was marred by serious irregularities including ballot stuffing and intimidation of opposition members.

Observers say the pro-Milosevic vote will not alter the outcome

"Claims of victory by pro-Milosevic forces are not credible," she said.

In the town of Gracanica, to the south of the Kosovan capital, Pristina, one official was claiming a 93% share of the vote.

International officials watched polling in Kosovo from a discreet distance and estimate that just under 45,000 people entered polling stations.

So far, the numbers of votes counted does not exceed the UN's final toll.

'Dignity'

Observers estimate about half of the Serbs still living in the province came out to vote.

A BBC correspondent said there was no doubt who most of them, particularly the old, were supporting.

Although President Milosevic has lost Kosovo, they still support him and see him as a man who stood up to the world.

One man told the BBC that they may be finished, but Mr Milosevic gives them dignity.