Serbia Rally Draws Largest Crowd Yet
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia — The uprising against Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic drew its largest crowd Monday, when more than 500,000 people marched in the capital on the Orthodox New Year’s Eve.
Unlike previous demonstrations, no police were visible at the Belgrade rally. Student protest leaders said police had given permission for the demonstration.
The rally came amid increasing fears of a crackdown on the opposition, which has staged daily marches since Milosevic’s courts annulled Nov. 17 opposition victories in 15 major cities and towns.
Milosevic belatedly agreed to cede the second-largest city of Nis to the opposition last week. Socialists there have defied orders to surrender power, however, and opposition leaders warn that Milosevic appears ready to use force to retain control over Belgrade.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
