CONFLICTS RESUME WITHIN YUGOSLAVIA'S RULING COALITION

BELGRADE, June 30 (Hina) - The way in which former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic was extradited to the Hague war crimes tribunal and the circumstances surrounding the hand-over have elicited a series of opposite claims and serious conflicts within the DOS ruling coalition, as well as the resignation of the federal Prime Minister, Zoran Zizic. In the last couple of days, the conflict has become politically defined, with incumbent President Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) on one side and the rest of the 15-member DOS on the other. Moreover, Montenegro's Socialist People's Party (SNP), Zizic's party and DOS' partner in the federal government until yesterday, has taken one stance and the other DOS ministers another. The crisis which has befallen Yugoslavia in the wake of Kostunica's public statements against the extradition of Milosevic and following Zizic's resignation could be overcome, according to analysts. They are, however, sceptical that relations within the DOS and between the DOS and the SNP will get smoothed over. A "straw of salvation" is Montenegro's People's Party (NS), which could give a new federal prime minister, perhaps as early as next week. Senior officials communicate through the media, bordering on mutual accusations. The media have become a means to argue, square accounts, exempt from or ascribe responsibility. Kostunica is hiding behind legality as well as the Yugoslav Army, whose top officials he has recently been decorating. Serbia's authorities no longer mention the army following a heated conflict between the chief-of-staff, General Nebojsa Pavkovic, and Serbia's Deputy PM Nebojsa Covic and other officials. Following Milosevic's extradition to The Hague two days ago, Yugoslavia was granted $1.28 billion in assistance at a donor conference in Brussels on Friday. (hina) ha sb