Around the World

Milosevic wants opposition arrested

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia ÐÐ Escalating the Yugoslav crisis, President Slobodan MilosevicÕs government yesterday ordered the arrest of leaders of one of the strikes launched to drive him from power.

The announcement by the Belgrade prosecutor followed a government statement warning of Òspecial measuresÓ against those responsible for the wave of strikes and blockades called to force Milosevic to accept defeat in Sept. 24 elections.

The arrest order raised fears that Milosevic may resort to the army and police to hold on to power, despite calls at home and abroad for him to step down in favor of challenger Vojislav Kostunica.

The opposition showed no signs of backing down and has called on Yugoslavs to come to Belgrade on Thursday for a final push to drive Milosevic from power.

Strikes spread to a key copper mine, and 50,000 demonstrators took to the streets in YugoslaviaÕs two largest cities ÐÐ 20,000 in Belgrade and 30,000 in Novi Sad, while barricades were up around the central town of Cacak.

In the capital, an estimated 20,000 people chanting Òthe police are with usÓ marched toward MilosevicÕs residence. Hundreds of riot police turned them away without incident.

Unifacation festival marred by bombing

DRESDEN, Germany --ÐÐ Germany celebrated 10 years as one nation yesterday in a city rebuilding symbols of its pre-World War II splendor, but a bombing darkened the festive mood.

After a summer marked by resurgent neo-Nazi violence, the firebombing of a synagogue in Duesseldorf, nearly 500 miles to the west, lent new urgency to concerns about the ugly side of united Germany.

Police said unknown assailants tossed as many as three Molotov cocktails at the synagogueÕs front door just before midnight Monday.