Belgrade, 27 September 2000 (RFE/RL) -- Some 200,000 people began streaming into a central Belgrade square for a rally today to celebrate the opposition's election victory over Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. Correspondents say people are pouring in from all directions to Republic square and that traffic in central Belgrade is blocked. Police are keeping a low profile. The rally was moved at the last moment after police said it could not be held in front of the Yugoslav parliament building.
The Yugoslav Electoral Commission yesterday said opposition candidate Vojislav Kostunica won 48 percent of the votes to 40 for Milosevic in Sunday's presidential poll. But it said Kostunica failed to win the absolute majority and that a runoff is necessary.
The opposition says Kostunica won an outright victory and he has rejected plans for a second round of voting.
The U.S. and Western European countries said Kostunica had clearly won the election and Milosevic should step down.
The Yugoslav Electoral Commission yesterday said opposition candidate Vojislav Kostunica won 48 percent of the votes to 40 for Milosevic in Sunday's presidential poll. But it said Kostunica failed to win the absolute majority and that a runoff is necessary.
The opposition says Kostunica won an outright victory and he has rejected plans for a second round of voting.
The U.S. and Western European countries said Kostunica had clearly won the election and Milosevic should step down.