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Danas correspondent from Kraljevo, Miroslav Filipovic, was released from military prison in Nis today after a decision by the investigative judge in his favour.

Military Prosecutor Stanimir Radosavljevic, informed the court today he would not demand legal proceedings against Filipovic in the next 48 hours, the legal period during which the accused may have been kept in custody before being trialed. The judge and the prosecution took proper and legitimate measures without any hesitation, said Filipovic's defence attorney Goran Draganic.

After walking out of Nis military prison, Miroslav Filipovic denied allegations of espionage which are the core of the indictment raised against him by Kraljevo Police Department.

A press conference announced for today by Public Attorney Jovo Stanojevic and his five deputies, has been canceled. Their resignations, however, were not withdrawn. It is believed the cancellation was due to regime pressure.

Momcilo Veljkovic, one of the arrested Otpor activists from Pozarevac, went on hunger strike at the Pozarevac investigative prison. "Momcilo Veljkovic has been on hunger strike for the last four days. His brother and the investigative judge are trying to persuade him to end the strike for the benefit of his health", said defence solicitor Gradimir Nalic to Reuters news agency.

Beta agency reports that Veljkovic went on strike in protest against "illegitimate and inhumane imprisonment".

General Naslov: Velimir Ilic sentenced to five months of prison

Velimir Ilic, vice-president of New Serbia and Mayor of Cacak has been sentenced to five months of prison, or one year on parole and financial compensation, after being charged by former Internal Affairs officials in Cacak. The trial was held at the Municipal Court in Cacak in Ilic's absence.

Ilic was sentenced for giving a statement at a rally in Cacak in 1997, when he said that left coalition Presidential candidate at the time, Zoran Lilic, "was guarded by local criminals during the election campaign, who caused body harm to several youngsters in the process, two of which were submitted to lengthy hospitalisation".

Ilic told Radio B2-92 that the whole matter was a political process staged to prevent him from making public appearances and leading an election campaign, since the smallest error could put him behind bars from now on.

More than 20,000 protested in two central Serbian towns demanding a stop to repression over opposition forces and free, democratic elections at all levels. Close to 20,000 people gathered in downtown Kragujevac, while several thousand citizens of Cacak were forced to gather in and around the town's Culture Centre, after police forces prevented gatherings in the open.

The Serbian Movement for Renewal strongly demands the release of six party members detained in Pozarevac, stated the party on Thursday, adding that "systematic terror over citizens is entering a phase in which it may produce unforeseeable consequences".

The Democratic Christian Party of Serbia stated on Thursday they were in the dark concerning party member Ivica Vukadinovic, since the moment he was "captured when entering Pozarevac on May 9". His family is also unaware of his whereabouts, concludes the statement.

The Association of Independent Electronic Media appealed for coordinated action of democratic forces to strike back at the regime after the latest arrests of citizens and journalists. ANEM claims that Serbian authorities applied the "scenario for special circumstances" with the aim to disable information flow from independent media to the public at home and abroad.

International Federation of Journalists Secretary General Ayden White, announced measures for concrete help to these media rather than earlier declarations of moral support and solidarity. Details are to be determined at the coming session in Brussels as part of the international campaign for support of independent media in Serbia

The Serb National Council in Kosovska Mitrovica has announced a March for Justice in the streets of its northern district to support detained Serbs and Gypsies who are on hunger strike for the last 33 days.

President of the Party for Democratic Progress of Kosovo and Vice-President of the Administrative Council of Kosovo, Hasim Taqi, has pushed for secession of Kosovo from Serbia, arguing that independence of this region was vital for stability in the Balkans. After visiting Vienna, Taqi stated that Kosovo will be proclaimed independent as soon as Albanians decide to take this step and convince the world to back their intentions. He added it was more important to stage free elections now that the war has ended.

An RTS (Radio Television Serbia) crew was deprived of their press passes by KFOR soldiers when trying to enter Orahovac, and ordered "to leave" the German KFOR sector in Southwest Kosovo, said the Yugoslav Committee for Co-operation with UNMIK at the same time lodging strong complaints to UNMIK and KFOR.

Montenegrin Prime Minister Filip Vujanovic denied reports of Britain's daily Independent saying that Montenegrin special combat units were preparing for conflicts with the Yugoslav Army (VJ). Navy and Second Army High Commands have asked for clarification from Montenegrin authorities concerning reports "of militia preparing for conflicts with the Yugoslav Army" and "training of sharpshooters for elimination of leading VJ officers".

"I think the High Commands should not have reacted the way they did, since a denial to these reports was published in the same paper before the reaction, on May 2, to be precise", said Vujanovic. The denial says: "There is nothing to support the claim that Montenegrin forces have been preparing for conflicts with the Yugoslav Army. Police activities are entirely directed at enforcing law and order, security of individuals and Montenegro as a whole. The Yugoslav and international public are well aware of all efforts by the Montenegrin Government to maintain a quality relationship with the Yugoslav Army. As confirmation of what I have said, one should observe frequent meetings between the leadership of the police in Montenegro and the army.

"We therefore believe the claims which have emerged from an interview with the alleged sniper go in hand to those people who are trying to destabilise the situation in Montenegro, which is certainly not the case with your newspaper. The police firmly rejects these horrific claims about some files and snipers tracking top-ranking army officials for the sake of their elimination".

Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic stated that the Government platform for redefinition of relations between Yugoslav federal units is still on the agenda, and is directed to everyone who wants to be a serious partner in discussions and agreements concerning the issue. Opposition party representatives from Serbia and Montenegrin Government officials have started talks about the platform in Podgorica today.

Croatian president Stipe Mesic claims in an interview to Parisian Figaro he warned Milosevic nine years ago, just before the conflict started, that his attempts to create Greater Serbia would end up reducing Serbia to Belgrade and its surroundings. "Milosevic's end is closer each day. He may loose the elections, or he may be forced to step down", said Mesic. The President of Croatia is in an official visit to France and he assures that Zagreb will fully co-operate with the Hague Tribunal for War Crimes in former Yugoslavia and will disclose all available information to the court, even if it involved Croat officers.

"The tribunal will receive all the files. No sate or military secret can hide a war crime. We want all war criminals, Croats, Serbs and Bosniacs alike, to be identified as soon as possible.

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