Serb Opposition Forms Municipal Group

Opposition leaders took new steps Sunday to coordinate forces against Serbia’s president, forming a coalition to organize 30 towns and villages they already govern.

About 100,000 protesters marched through Belgrade, capital of both Serbia and the rump Yugoslavia, shortly after the opposition announced the formation of the Union of Free Cities and Municipalities of Serbia.

Sunday was the 33rd straight day of demonstrations against Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and his annulment of results from Nov. 17 elections in dozens of towns and cities where the opposition has claimed victories. The protests are the biggest challenge to Milosevic since he assumed power in 1987.

Also joining the new group were opposition officials from 14 towns and villages who claim they were robbed of office by annulments and other election irregularities.

Opposition leader Zoran Djindjic said the union of cities was not formed to challenge Milosevic but to prepare for when the opposition assumes political power.

“We want [to be] the regular authorities, not a parallel,” he said.

Djindjic also said the opposition will launch its own radio and television networks to challenge state-run media loyal to Milosevic and will broadcast illegally if necessary.

In Belgrade, marchers jeered and booed through heavy rain as they passed by the state television building to protest its strong support for the Serbian president.

In the town of Smederevo, southeast of the capital, members of Milosevic’s Socialist Party convened another in a series of demonstrations in support of the president. About 1,000 people were bused in, carrying placards and banners written in the same script.

An opposition statement said three of its supporters were arrested after they blew whistles at Milosevic supporters in Smederevo. Two were beaten, said the statement. There was no comment from authorities.