Answering questions from journalists on October 5, Ivanenko called the decision of the Constitutional Court of Yugoslavia to annul the results of the elections of the President of the country held on September 24, as �absurd and provocative�. According to Ivanenko, such a decision represents �direct aid� to the present President Slobodan Milosevic.

�I think that this decision is a political one and may provoke direct conflict between the people and the authorities and increase the danger of the outbreak of a civil war,� added Ivanenko.

He also said that the present President of Yugoslavia �may have pressurised the decision of the Constitutional Court�. Ivanenko noted that in such a

situation it could have been more reasonable to �simply perform a recount of election results, as all the bulletins had been received�.

Ivanenko also stressed that the decision of the Constitutional Court of Yugoslavia was �provocative�. He believes that, owing to the deteriorating social and political situation in the country, honest elections are �out of the question�.

Based on Interfax reports.

The Yabloko faction will take its final decision on voting on the draft budget for 2001 on Friday October 6. This statement was made by Deputy Head of the faction Sergei Ivanenko after a meeting of the faction on October 5.

He stressed that Yabloko reacts favourably to the government�s consideration of several proposals of the faction in the budget for 2001.

However, Ivanenko said that �we have received no response from the government to our proposals on the abolition of military conscription and the transfer to a contract-based service. He also expressed his hope that the government would be able to answer this �key condition� of the Yabloko faction within the 24 hours remaining.

Ivanenko also said that he would not rule out the possibility that the faction could decide to vote against the budget, if this decision is not taken.

Based on RBC reports. See also: