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Bosnia: Serb President Accuses Hardline Rivals Of Threats


Banja Luka, 4 July 1997 (RFE/RL) - Biljana Plavsic, the president of Bosnia's Serb entity, has accused her rivals -- including indicted war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic -- of spying on her and threatening her life in a bid to oust her. Plavsic yesterday issued a decree dissolving the Bosnian Serb parliament and calling for September elections.

She accused the body of taking orders from Karadzic. But allies of Karadzic, who dominate the parliament, are refusing to recognize the decree. They plan to meet in Pale later today to consider a motion to remove Plavsic.

Plavsic said late yesterday that the Karadzic-controlled secret service has been spying on her and said she feared her life was in danger. She also insisted that her decree to dissolve the parliament is constitutional.

Plavsic yesterday told Belgrade's independent B-92 radio that Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic is the major force behind the political turmoil in the Serb entity of Bosnia. She charged that Milosevic has aspirations to "rule the destiny of Republika Srpska." She also charged that Milosevic continues to communicate directly with Karadzic.

No response is yet available from Belgrade.

Plavsic said the prime minister, interior ministry and police are not fulfilling their tasks. She also said parliament is carrying out orders from what she called "informal centers of power," an apparent reference to former Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic.

The Bosnian Serb government is refusing to recognize Plavsic's decision to dissolve parliament, calling it unconsitutional. Prime Minister Gojko Klickovic said the decree is unnecessary.

Western news agencies are reporting that state television is closing its studios in the northern town of Banja Luka -- Plavsic's stronghold -- and will broadcast only from Pale, Karadzic's base.

Meanwhile, the OSCE -- the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe -- said Plavsic deserves international support for showing a desire to follow the Dayton peace accords. Spokesman David Foley said "now is the defining moment for the peace process."
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