Russia offers to mediate in Yugoslavia; Albright says Milosevic must go

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia - Russia offered on Saturday to use its influence to try to defuse the showdown between Slobodan Milosevic and opposition forces, who have threatened general strikes and protests until the Yugoslav president steps aside.

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, however, said the Russians should accept Milosevic's apparent defeat in the Sept. 24 election. The only message Moscow should send to Belgrade, she said, was that the Yugoslav president is ''finished.''

The proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin came as the opposition threatened to launch a nationwide general strike Monday to force Milosevic to accept apparent defeat by its candidate, Vojislav Kostunica.

There was no official announcement from the government whether Milosevic would accept the Russian offer. But at a speech Saturday to the Yugoslav military academy, Milosevic said: ''We alone will decide our fate.''

Thousands of opposition supporters gathered in Belgrade on Saturday night to hear their leaders announce a general strike for Monday and a limited road blockade Sunday as a ''dress rehearsal.''

''No more big words, speeches and rallies,'' said Vuk Obradovic, a former army general and now Milosevic opponent. ''Our message to the police, to the army and to paramilitary units is that we are not afraid of them.''

Obradovic suggested that if Milosevic sends his forces to attack, crowds from elsewhere in the country would converge on the capital. ''Not a single drop of blood must be shed,'' he added. ''We ask everybody to be peaceful and dignified.''

Opposition leaders, using figures from their poll watchers, claim Kostunica won the election with 51.34 percent to 36.22 percent for Milosevic. But the Federal Electoral Commission, in a tally criticized by the United States and other countries, says Kostunica fell short of the majority needed to avoid a runoff Oct. 8.

On Saturday, the electoral body formally rejected opposition complaints of irregularities in last weekend's vote and reaffirmed the runoff will go ahead as planned. That was a clear sign Milosevic has no plans to bow to opposition demands.

Milosevic still controls the army and the police, traditional pillars of his power. Seeking to shore up those bases, the Yugoslav president addressed graduation ceremony Saturday at the Yugoslav military academy and congratulated the newly commissioned officers for serving ''at a time of great temptation for our people and state.''

In his first public appearance since last weekend's election, Milosevic reminded the military of its duty to defend ''our freedom and the independence of our country,'' which the government claims is at risk because of alleged Western interference in the Yugoslav election.

''Foreign forces will not dare attack us again, unless they try to come here with an invitation from our domestic enemies,'' Milosevic said, referring to the opposition. ''Since foreign military intervention or a war are out of the question, other means of destruction of Yugoslavia are being mentioned - psychological, media and political pressures.''

Without referring to any mediation efforts, Milosevic added: ''We alone will decide our fate.''

In Moscow, Putin offered to send Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov to Belgrade to meet with both sides. Russia - among Yugoslavia's strongest allies - has warned the West to avoid meddling in the election.

''If Belgrade finds it possible, Russia would be prepared to play a higher profile in the process of settlement and coordination of positions,'' Putin said, according to the Kremlin press service.

Albright, however, insisted the Russians must tell Milosevic it was time to give up power and that she would convey that message to Ivanov by telephone.

''I think the Russians need to make clear that they understand that this has been a procedure where the opposition has won,'' she told reporters In Reykjavik, Iceland. ''The Russians need to understand that Milosevic lost in this round. He is finished. It is time for him to go.''

Opposition leaders have called for a peaceful civil disobedience campaign, hoping to avoid provoking Milosevic into using the army and police against them.

Scattered protests and road blockades took place Saturday in various parts of Serbia. Various professional associations have also pledged to support the opposition. University and high school students have announced they will join the general strike.

Truckers, farmers and workers blocked several roads in different parts of Serbia Saturday, some for only several hours as a warning of a broader blockade on Monday.

Miners at the Kolubara coal mine, workers in Pancevo oil refinery, railroad workers in the western Serbia have also decided to go on strike until the authorities acknowledge the opposition victory.

The opposition had filed several complaints of alleged irregularities, chief among them that Milosevic supporters packed ballot boxes in Kosovo with thousands of votes purportedly from Kosovo Albanians. The United Nations, which administers the province, said virtually all Kosovo Albanians boycotted the ballot.