Milosevic: sole candidate for the Yugoslav Presidency

Milosevic Elected President of Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia is now composed only of Serbia and its neighbour Montenegro. Mr Milosevic was the only candidate in the presidential poll. He gained a comfortable majority in a secret ballot conducted in both chambers of the Yugoslav parliament and will take the Presidential oath on 23 July.

The vote had been scheduled for next week, but some observers believe it was moved forward in order to block objections to Mr Milosevic from the Montenegrin opposition. The Montenegrin party allied to Mr Milosevic's Serbian Socialist Party is embroiled in a power struggle, with one faction wanting more autonomy and the other supporting close relations with Serbia. One opposition leader said the timing was important: "Milosevic apparently thought that once the power struggle is resolved, some of the Montenegrin deputies might vote against him."

As Serbian President, Mr Milosevic has already served the maximum of two five-year terms allowed by the country's constitution. Although the Yugoslav Presidency has up to now been a largely ceremonial post, Mr Milosevic is likely to try to extend its powers.

The Serbian leader is widely regarded as an accomplished political strategist and survivor. Coming to power in 1987, he presented himself as a staunch Serbian nationalist, declaring that he would fight for the right of Serbs to live in one state. He was heavily criticised internationally for removing the autonomy of the predominantly Albanian province of Kosovo in 1990. From 1991, he actively supported Serbs in Croatia and Bosnia in a war which lasted for four years.

But by the end of 1995, Mr Milosevic - under the pressure of international sanctions - had become a peacemaker, playing a key role in bringing the Bosnian Serbs to the negotiating table.

One year after peace came to Bosnia, Mr Milosevic faced serious opposition at home, as thousands of people took to the streets of Belgrade demanding his removal. Having survived that challenge, he has since strengthened his grip on key institutions like the police and the army.