BELGRADE - Signs of Serbian government authority faltering in the face of relentless street protests increased yesterday when an eminent former ally of President Slobodan Milosevic accused him of ignoring the popular will.
Mr Borisav Jovic, a formed Yugoslav federal president, told the British Guardian newspaper that the policy of ignoring the municipal election results of November 17th had divided and weakened the government.
He urged Mr Milosevic to admit his election defeats and reduce the influence of his wife Ms Mira Markovic, who heads one of the governing parties, the Yugoslav United Left (JUL).
Thousands of people demonstrated in Belgrade yesterday for the 76th day running against the governments annulment of the elections, which were won by an opposition coalition. Lawyers, teachers and Belgrade university deans all took action.
Results of an independent opinion poll published yesterday showed that 12 per cent of all Serbians over 18, or roughly 700,000 people, were demonstrating on average every day across the country.