Serbian government resigns

The Serbian government, one of former strongman Slobodan Milosevic last bastions of power, resigned Monday, said pro-democracy leader Zoran Djindjic.

The Serbian government, one of former strongman Slobodan Milosevic last bastions of power, resigned Monday, said pro-democracy leader Zoran Djindjic.

He said that new elections for the Serbian legislature, which is separate from the Yugoslav parliament, will be held on Dec. 19.

Serbian lawmakers will formally announce the decision about the government and the election date at a session later Monday, he said.

Djindjic said that a transitional government consisting of economic experts will be formed to replace the existing administration headed by Milosevic's staunch ally, Mirko Marjanovic.

Serbia is Yugoslavia's largest republic, accounting for 90 percent of Yugoslavia's population of 10 million and is led by a powerful president allied to Milosevic.

If the Serbian government is allowed to remain in place, it would be in position to block many reforms the new government of President Vojislav Kostunica may want to implement.

Serbia's president and parliament are elected separately from federal posts and were not involved in the contentious federal vote Sept. 24. Milutinovic and other Serbian government leaders were elected in 1998 to four-year terms.

Kostunica's allies have insisted that the pro-Milosevic authorities in Serbia had lost all legitimacy after a massive triumph by pro-democracy forces in elections held on September 24.