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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 22, 1996)
_News Digest Jugoslavia president seeks to annul election BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (AP) — Former Communists lost big in recent elections in Eastern Europe, and it ap pears the Serbian republic of Yugosla via was no exception — even if its president refuses to admit it. Slobodan Milosevic’s government seeks to annul the results of Sunday’s local elections, which suggest that people are fed up with economic hard ship and the aftermath of the Bosnian war that he helped start. For the first time since Communists came to power in 1945, a pro-democ racy opposition seems to have won sig nificant power. Tens of thousands of workers and intellectuals, united for the first time in years, are fighting what they say is vote-rigging by the Milosevic regime. On Thursday, the fourth day of demonstrations across Serbia, up to 30,000 people marched through Belgrade, chanting “We won’t give up our victory.” Shouting “Red Bandits,” the crowd stopped by Milosevic’s state-run Serbian TV, cursing and booing riot police deployed around the downtown building and demanding “liberation” from the propaganda tool that has been blasting the opposition. Similar protests were reported in several other Serbian towns and cities, including the second largest city of Nis. The protesters are angry that the Milosevic-controlled electoral com mission on Tuesday night annulled and called for re-runs of Sunday’s local elections in several Serbian districts, mostly in places where the four-party opposition coalition claimed clear vic tory. coalition pledged to continue their hunger strike in Serbia’s parliament building and to stay locked inside until their demands are met. The four-party coalition — called Zajedno, or “Together” — sent the — m ■ president four demands, including that he recognize their initial election re sults and bring criminal charges against local election officials. “Our position is crystal clear. We are defending the law,” Zoran Djindjic, head of the Democratic Party, told The Associated Press. The opposition claims to have won in 44 municipalities, including Belgrade and the former Communist bastions of Nis, Kragujevac, Uzice and Novi Sad. Milosevic’s coalition claimed vic tory in 134 of Serbia’s 189 municipali ties. Most, however, are small districts and practically irrelevant compared to the bigger Serbian towns. On Wednesday, the opposition urged supporters in towns where it claimed victory to seize city halls and establish their own rule. But police forces were mobilized in all of Serbia’s major towns. On Thursday, police con fiscated Democratic Party equipment, including loudspeakers, at the Belgrade rally. An opposition victory would be a setback to Milosevic, since much of his political and economic power, as well as his control over media, is lodged in municipal governments, He still rules firmly on the republic’s and federal level, and is in control of his major tools of power: the police and the army. “The election results in Romania, Bulgaria and other countries previ ously ruled by 'reformed communists’ are a clear sign that economy and day to-day life have prevailed over ideol ogy and promises,” said Vuk Draskovic, an opposition leader. Bulgaria? voters elected Petar Stoyanov, an anti-Communist, as their president. In Romania this past week end, rural voters joined urban intellec tuals to replace Ion Iliescu, a former communist, with moderate reformer Emil Constantinescu. !■■■■■■■■■■■■. Explosion in Puerto Rico shears building, kills 20 Blast tears a 50-foot-wide hole in side of structure SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — An- explosion at a shoe store sheared the side off a six-story building Thursday, killing at least 20 people, injuring 82 and leaving up to IS missing. A gas leak was believed to have caused the blast. The 6:35 a.m. explosion ripped a 50-foot-wide hole up the side of the building, exposing offices and apartments. It left a tangle of con crete and steel beams that filled a city block and shattered windows in nearby buildings and cars. “There were just parts of bodies lying in the street, torsos, bones, cars blasted against the building,” said Ramon Camino, a doctor who arrived at the scene shortly after the explosion. Rescue workers pulled dozens of survivors, coated with blood and dust, from the debris. Bodies, bloody and burned, could be seen in the rubble. Rescuers used a nearby church as a triage center, and helicopters took the most seriously injured to the Centro Medico Hospital. The dead were laid out with sheets over their bodies on the pave ment in front of the Iglesia Milagros Catholic Church. Next door, shards of glass and concrete blasted through the windows of an elemen tary school where about 500 stu dents were attending classes. None of the students was injured. Toledo said a propane gas leak may have been the cause of the blast at the Humberto Vidal shoe store in Rio Piedras, a residential and shop ping district in San Juan. Owners of the shoe store said they reported a gas leak to the San Juan Gas Co. several days ago, he said. Housing secretary seventh Cabinet member to resign WASHINGTON (AP) —Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros said Thurs day he will leave the Cabinet, depriv ing President Clinton of a trusted po litical adviser vexed by lingering per sonal troubles. In a letter to Clinton, Cisneros said he would have liked to have remained but “I have concluded that I cannot ask to be considered for service in the next four years.” He is the seventh of the 14 Cabinet members to indicate he won’t be stay ing for Clinton’s second term. Cisneros said that he is leaving be cause he needs to seek a higher-pay ing job outside government He has one daughter in college and another in law school. , He also has legal bills from the on going probe into whether he lied to the FBI about payments to a former mis tress. The investigation cast a pall over Cisneros’ ability to remain at HUD because of the legal bills it continues to generate. “Really, I came to do this for four years. I prayed I could stretch the fi nances that far,” Cisneros said. “This is about as far as I can stretch it.” His salary as secretary of housing and urban development is $148,400 a year. “I have worked the last four years to advance your hopes for America’s communities,” Cisneros told Clinton. “I have constantly grown in my respect for the clarity of your vision for the American future, for your judgments Mid for your tireless dedication.” Student group hosts Pow-Wow this weekend From Staff Reports For the seventh-straight year, the University of Nebraska InterTribal Exchange (U.N.I.T.E.) will share the cultural tradition of the Pow Wow with the community. The Pow-Wow, scheduled for 'Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 23 and 24 in the Nebraska Union’s Centen nial Ballroom, is intended to bring people together and to share the expression of the arts. The event will highlight tradi tional American Indian dance and drumming. The Grand Entry of Pow-Wow participants will be Sat urday at both 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p jn. The price of admission is a canned food donation. For more information call 472- * 2027. 11 r" --‘——I i mi m_e_ 441-0222 Press: 1) •■ CINEMA TWIN 2) * DOUGLAS 3) » EAST PARK 3 4) * EDGEWOOD 3 5) THE LINCOLN « * PLAZA 4 7) * STARSHIP 8) STUART 9) _ *• COMING SOON EH nS BH El % ; L_ Editor: DougKouma 472-2588 Managing Editor: Doug Peters Assoc. News Editors: Paula Lavigne Jeff Randall Opinion Editor: Anne Hjersman AP Wire Editor: Kelly Johnson Copy Desk Chief: Julie Sobczyk Sports Edftor: Mitch Sherman A&E EcNtor: Joshua GHbn Photo Director: Tanna Kinnaman Web Editor: Michelle Collins - Night Editor: Beth Narans Layout Editor: Nancy Zywiec nigni nows Editors: Bryce Glenn Jennifer Milke Antone Oseka Art Director: Aaron Steckelberg General Manager: DanShattil Advertising Manager: Amy simmers Asst Advertising Manager: Tracy Welshans ClasaMed Ad Manager Tlffiny Ciifton Publications Board Chairman: Travis Brandt Professional Adviser: Don Walton * 473-7301 FAX NUMBER: 472-1781 The Daily Nebraskan (USPS144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board. Nebraska Union 34. 1400 R St.. Lincoln. NE 68588-0448, Monday through Friday during the academic year; weekly during summer sessions. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daly Ne braskan by calling 472-2588. The pubfic has access to the Publications Board. Subscription price is $55 for one year. Postmaster Send adcfress changes to the Daly Nebraskan. Nebraska Union 34. 1400 R St.. Lincoln. NE 68588-0448. Second-class postage paid at Lincoln, Neb. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1898 DAILY NEBRASKAN
