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Belgrade takes to the streets in defiance of Milosevic

Up to a quarter of a million people have taken to the streets of the Yugoslav capital Belgrade tonight to call on President Slobodan Milosevic to step down. Police are reported to be keeping a low profile at what is one of the biggest opposition gatherings yet seen in the city. The opposition, which rejects government plans for a second round run off, has said that it will bring the country to a standstill if the President, Slobodan Milosevic refuses to go.

The Yugoslavian federal election commission has refused to allow the opposition to check results in Sunday's presidential election. It denies claims that the opposition candidate, Vojislav Kostunica, won the presidency outright with more than half of the vote. Instead, the Commission has ordered a runoff vote between Mr Kostunica and President Slobodan Milosevic.

The US President has accused Mr Milosevic of trying to steal Sunday's election from the opposition. Bill Clinton was criticising the decision by Yugoslavia's Electoral Commission to hold a second round stand off. The opposition says that Mr Kostunica received 54% of the vote. President Clinton said that Mr Milosevic appeared to have lost his "last vestige of legitimacy". He said that despite the Yugoslav Government's attempt to manipulate the vote, it was clear that the people had voted for change.