Kostunica promises peace and stability in Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia's new president today met EU leaders including the Taoiseach and promised that his country would become a rock of peace and democracy in Europe. Vojislav Kostunica said that his priority was to rebuild Yugoslavia's shattered economy but he also left the door open to co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague, which wants to try Slobodan Milosevic for war crimes in Kosovo. The tribunal has indicted Slobodan Milosevic and is looking into whether to widen the charges against him to include atrocities committed in Bosnia-Hercegovina and Croatia. Speaking to reporters following a lunch with EU leaders in the French resort of Biarritz, President Kostunica said that the question of co-operation with the UN War Crimes Tribunal is a fact, but it cannot be a priority.

In Serbia, talks aimed at dissolving the country's parliament and calling an early parliamentary election are due to resume later today after late night discussions failed to reach an agreement. A spokesman for supporters of the Mr Kostunica said that a tentative election date of the December 24 had been agreed, although further talks were needed with the socialists, led by Mr Milosevic.

Meanwhile, Yugoslav soccer fans rioted in Belgrade's biggest sports stadium, forcing abandonment of a match between Red Star and Partizan, the capital's two arch rivals. Witnesses said that Partizan fans sparked trouble by tossing fireworks and stadium seats at rival fans and on to the pitch. As the players were escorted to safety, hundreds of Red Star supporters broke out of their end of the ground and raced across the pitch to confront the Partizan fans. No serious injuries were reported.