Milosevic re-elected leader of Socialist Party of Serbia
Saturday, 25 November 2000 21:49
The former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic has been re-elected as leader of the Socialist Party of Serbia during a special party conference in Belgrade. Mr Milosevic was the only candidate. He says that he plans to consolidate the party's position after its resounding defeat in last September's federal elections which saw him being ousted as Yugoslav president. His first task will be to reunite the party. At least 20 senior officials have defected over the last two months.
Earlier, Mr Milosevic accused those who overthrew him nearly two months ago of being traitors funded by the west. Speaking at a the congress Mr Milosevic said that his party was the main defender of the state which was why it was the target of Western attacks. It was his first public appearance since his fall from power.
Mr Milosevic also denounced as a "coup" the mass uprising which forced him from power. He launched a fierce attack on his political opponents, saying that they were trying to rewrite the history of last year's NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia. He said that those who defended the country during the war were now declared as enemies.
Meanwhile, ethnic Albanian guerrillas have agreed to a ceasefire with Serbian police in the demilitarised border zone between Serbia and Kosovo. The NATO led peacekeeping force KFOR said it brokered the agreement.
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