By MISHA SAVIC, Associated Press Writer
BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (AP) - A parliamentary committee accused Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica ( news - web sites) on Friday of trying to use army troops last year against the office of his political rival.
|
The criticism was a political setback for Kostunica, who is locked in a power struggle with Zoran Djindjic, prime minister of Serbia, Yugoslavia's larger dominant republic.
Kostunica's position as president of Yugoslavia is likely to disappear later this year as part of a Western-backed plan to transform the Yugoslav federation into a loose union named Serbia and Montenegro. He is running for president of Serbia in Sept. 29 elections with his main contender Miroljub Labus, a Djindjic protege.
The Serbian parliament panel was looking into allegations that Kostunica aides planned a raid for the night of June 4 to 5, 2001 against a Serbian government building that Kostunica charged was bugging his conversations.
The committee said it found no proof that Kostunica was being wiretapped and censured the president for "violating the basic principles" concerning the use of the military.
The panel's report, based on interviews with dozens of top officials, found that Kostunica's closest aides demanded the Yugoslav army send troops to raid the office. The assault was never carried out.
Djindjic and Kostunica formed an alliance in 2000 to oust former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic ( news - web sites), but their relations have since deteriorated. Milosevic is on trial for war crimes before a U.N. court.
