YUGOSLAV PRESIDENT VOJISLAV KOSTUNICA SMILES AS SUPPORTERS APPLAUD, 2000-10-09 (photo)

Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica smiles as supporters applaud infront of the Serbian parliament building in Belgrade October 9, 2000. Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica faced a critical test on Monday to try to break the old powers controlling the Serbian parliament while the nation looked to the EU for sanctions relief. The heads of the major parties in the Serbian parliament agreed on Monday to hold early elections for the assembly on December 19, said Zoran Djindjic, a top backer of new Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica. The elections would play a crucial role in Kostunica's drive to democratise Serbia and Montenegro, the constituents of Yugoslavia, after 13 years of authoritarian rule by his predecessor Slobodan Milosevic. Djindjic said the party heads, who met on the sidelines of a Serbian parliamentary session, had also agreed in principle to the formation of a transitional government of experts to run Yugoslavia. IM/