ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: The push to oust Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic appears to be waning. Organizers say turnout for Saturday's antigovernment rally in the capital Belgrade was dismal. In recent weeks, government forces have cracked down on independent media and student groups. CNN's Alessio Vinci reports, many Serbs are disillusioned by the opposition's lack of focus.</s>ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Around 15,000 people gathered in Belgrade's Republic Square, a modest show of support for opposition politicians, who had called on citizens across Serbia to protest a recent government crackdown against media, students and opposition activists. Opposition leaders were visibly disappointed, so were some of those who attended the rally. The low turnout indicates a growing public discontent with the opposition, who has failed to come up with a concrete plan of action on how to respond to the government seizure of a popular TV station. Vuk Draskovic, leader of the largest opposition party, said people today are paralyzed by fear, despair and a feeling of helplessness.</s>VUK DRASKOVIC, SERBIAN RENEWAL (through translator): The authorities will pass law on terrorism. We have to stand against us being turned into slaves, against the law which will allow the disrespect of our basic human rights.</s>VINCI: In recent days, the Yugoslav government has shut down all universities, detained hundreds of political activists and questioned dozens of journalists. The government has also announced it will introduce a new antiterrorism law which will allow police to detain people for up to 60 days without charges, a law many analysts agree is aimed at intimidating opposition supporters. Also dissatisfied is the student movement "Otpor," or resistance, who called on the opposition leaders to stop wasting time. The rally on Saturday had been billed as a major test for the opposition. Last month, there were more than 100,000 people in this same square. Today, persistent divisions within the opposition were clear in the lower turnout, which leaves the opposition leadership unsure about what its next step should be. Alessio Vinci, CNN, London.
Push to Oust Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic Appears to Be Waning