Belgrade, 3 August 2000 (RFE/RL) - Fifteen Serbian opposition parties launched talks today aimed at choosing a common candidate to run against Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in September elections. Democratic Party leader Zoran Djindjic said the parties have set a deadline of five days to unify behind a single candidate.
The meeting comes after the parties failed yesterday to persuade the governing coalition in Montenegro to drop their planned election boycott and join behind a common candidate.
The opposition Serbian Renewal Movement, led by Vuk Draskovic, also has said it will not take part in the elections unless the Montenegrin coalition does.
Meanwhile, one of the three parties in Milosevic's governing coalition announced today that it may field its own candidate to challenge Milosevic. Vojislav Seselj says his Serb Radical Party will reach a final decision on the issue on Monday.
The meeting comes after the parties failed yesterday to persuade the governing coalition in Montenegro to drop their planned election boycott and join behind a common candidate.
The opposition Serbian Renewal Movement, led by Vuk Draskovic, also has said it will not take part in the elections unless the Montenegrin coalition does.
Meanwhile, one of the three parties in Milosevic's governing coalition announced today that it may field its own candidate to challenge Milosevic. Vojislav Seselj says his Serb Radical Party will reach a final decision on the issue on Monday.