Rival Accused of Bid to Oust Yugoslav Leader
The Yugoslav government accused opposition leader Vuk Draskovic of conspiring with the French intelligence service to try to topple President Slobodan Milosevic.
“Draskovic had several talks with the French intelligence . . . and in 1999 offered to cooperate with any foreign service for an adequate amount of money,” Information Minister Goran Matic said.
Matic has previously alleged that foreign powers were plotting to oust Milosevic, but Saturday was the first time he implicated Draskovic, the leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement, in his allegations.
The minister showed what he said was a taped confession of a Yugoslav national.
The man was arrested for allegedly being a member of a French commando group with instructions to topple Milosevic by force. The somewhat blurred footage showed him talking about Draskovic’s alleged meetings with a top French official.
Draskovic aide Predrag Simic dismissed the allegations, which he said were aimed at undermining a meeting of opposition leaders.
The leaders are expected to forge a joint strategy against Milosevic on Monday.
“The government is trying to divert attention from all the tragedies and disasters in our country for which they are responsible,” Simic said.
French foreign affairs officials declined to comment.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
