Serbian President Asks Kostunica To Form Government

Belgrade, 20 February 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Serbia's acting President Dragan Marsicanin today formally asked Democratic Party of Serbia leader Vojislav Kostunica to form a new government.
The move follows almost eight weeks of political uncertainty after December's inconclusive parliamentary elections.

Kostunica, a moderate nationalist, is expected to head a minority coalition backed in parliament by ousted leader Slobodan Milosevic's Socialists. Yesterday, Kostunica said he hopes to form a government by the end of next week.

Kostunica helped in 2000 to oust Milosevic, who is now on trial in The Hague for war crimes related to the break-up of Yugoslavia. Kostunica replaced Milosevic, but later lost the presidency.