Show 'a 1 he Salt Like ine WORLD SatuntA Map h f 200-- Serbia's new Cabinet is already in trouble AD 1 1 -- A0111 t Secret no more: The Justice minister past government secretary and Interior minister have troubling histories other alle- gation ra- dio station Ni- riel101110MMEN1 kolic sa id an- In 4 re- - 4 ported day that the k GEC By JOVAN The Avortati tary of the BELGRADE — Key ministers committee Zoran Bali- used to belong to the Jugoslav Left the wife of led once by party former autocratic President Slobodan Milosev ic e The radio report said was a close ally of Milosevic's hard-linjustice minister Dragoljub Jakovic and that he took part in drafting a notorious law in 2000 designed to presMilosevic's sure political opponents In another blow to Kostunica media reports also said Interior Minister Dragan Jocic was convicted and sentenced to a suspended prison term in 1981 for allegedly robbing a newspaper and tobacco kiosk Jocic on Friday declared it a "youthful sin and a mishap" but offered to resign if Kostunica asks him to step down There was no immediate comment from Kostunica on the criticism of his ministers Kostunica a bitter critic of the former government has sought to portray his Cabinet as democratic and not corrupt novae tak- ing Friday just days after ing office — a new setback for Prime Minister Vojislav Kos-tuica's shaky minority rule The allegations involve the ministers of justice and interior as well as a government secretary Public outrage was triggered after media reports that Justice Minister Zoran Stojknotorious a was ovic Communist-erjudge who convicted six prominent dissidents activities in 1984 for anti-statDeclaring Stojkovic's appointment a "scandal" one of the defendants who was tried for "hostile conduct" during the dictatorship of former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito told the Danas newspaper that the proceedings were dubbed the "last Stalinist trial in Europe" by Amnesty International "This appointment is a mockery of truth and justice" said Milan Nikolic who was sentenced to 112 years in prison by Stojkovic "He was used in staged political trials" in the n t 41 klIFIK AS I KMI Demanding Aristide return to Haiti his supporters protest at the presidential palace in in favor of Aristide since the ousted president fled to Africa on Sunday One young man Ihrtvirrutini Prim It was the first large the US Marines mooned and then screamed epithets capital of protest Alistide backers angry at his ouster Outside the US Embassy one Vanguard: Si far Marines man screamed epithets young hme encountered no and lum mooned the Nlarines "If it comes to that we will resistance hut also none confront the US Marines" said of the jubilation of their demonstrator Pierre Paul 35 "We will do the same thing that 1991 intervention "Ifit collies to that we trill confront the US I By MAR K STEVENSON AND IN JAMES IhrEisociaieviPrris Haiti -Three thousand sulipfirters of ArisPresident tide marched on the US and French embassies on Friday shouting their anger at his ouster Meanwhile a council met for the first time to a transitional form help government' The protesters a feW with pistols tucked into their belts charged past embassies and the president lal National Palace chanting "Long live Aristide!" and "Down with George Bush!" US troops watched impassively as the protesters passed Jean-Bertran- seven-membe- interim international force The teams are in addition to the 1100 Marines in Crusan said Witnesses in Cap-- I Ia filen said police were disarming rebels who took that city on Feb 22 Radio Metropole said there has been some resistance to disarming particularly in Gonaives but no fighting was reported Paul Arcelin an adviser to Rebel leader Guy Philippe said on Friday the rebels would keep their weapons as long as Aristide militants were armed because "tomorrow they'll come here and kill us" Asked where the rebel guns were he said: "We hide them" Philippe apparently under pressure from Washington has promised that his fighters would disarm But no plan have been announced for the rebels to hand in their weapons Aristide claims he was abducted at gunpoint by US Marines charges the Bush administration strongly denies e Marines" they are doing in Iraq" It was the first large protest in favor of Aristide since the ousted president fled to Africa on Sunday as rebels prepared for a final and the push on United States and France pressed the former priest to bow out US Gen James Hill of the Southern Command said that US Light Armored Vehicles were placed at the presidential palace to stop looting that had erupted in recent days and prevent opposition forces from taking over The Marines arrived the day Aristide left followed by French and Chilean troops forming the vanguard of a peacekeeping force expected to number about 5000 Canada said It is sending 450 soldiers within days PIERRE PAUL Demonstrator The Marines so far have met no resistance though there has been none of the jubilation that accompanied their last intervention in Haiti — in 1994 when 20000 troops ousted a brutal military dictatorship halted an exodus of boat people to Florida and restored Aristide to power A spokesman said US troops had expanded their presence in I laiti beyond the capital and into rebel strongholds Special teams from the US Southern Command in Florida arrived at rebel on ilaiti's bases of north coast and the western city of Gonaives said Army Maj Richard Crusan spokesman for the d Cap-Haitie- n e Venezuela's Chavez stands by elections process In light of the planned rally the US State Department warned Americans in Venezuela to take precautions saying "the potential for violence" was high Chavez blamed Venezuela's opposition media and opposition leaders of inciting the violence and claimed the media was falsely accusing his government of blocking the referendum process Chavez also accused Washington of fueling the unrest In a speech Friday Chavez said the United States and Venezuela's opposition were trying to smear his government to Justify his unconstitutional ouster "In the name of truth I must ask the government of Washington to keep its hands out r of Venezuela" Chavez said in speech to foreign ambassadors Washington has repeatedly denied involvement The State Department urged "the government of Venezuela to respect the Venezuelan people's peaceful exercise of their constitutional rights and to avoid the excessive use of BY FA ItIOLA SANCHEZ Theivociottli Prows CARACAS Venezuela — President I lugo Chavez (Wilde(' Venezuela's elections process Friday as hundreds Of his opponents marched in Caracas to protest widespread ant a rta 'St s (luring demonstrations The South American nation has bePil hit by riot ing linked to the reject ion ol'a petition for Chavez's recall At least eight p(4)1dC died and dozens ‘A'ere wounded in five days of street violence that abated Wednesday ixith the mediation of internat kmal observers Chavez has Arguing that the become increasingly autocratic opponents submitted more than 3 million signatures to demand the recall About 24 million are regitired Hut the elections council ruled that only 18 million signatures were valid and that another 11 million signatures may be authentic if citizens come forward to confirm they signed El I PIM E7111rAviociltied 1)A Caracas Venezuela President Hugo Chavez accused the US of trying to smear his government Speaking Friday in OUT OF (ICE) WATER 1 41 two-hou- The council rejected 140000 signatures outright Meanwhile hundreds marched in Caracas on Friday protesting what organizers said WPM the arrests of more than 300 people Authorities won't say how many were detained A larger march was planned for today I VA141 ckN1 force '1 r t I I D rf t SI" 1 -- t ‘ - 1 0 qzt 0 --"--- N-- -- ‘ - y ' Aim mitiolliiiio ‘ Al'0140101i4i ‘ IoviSitIvA 4114 t 1111 :'Itithktit !I I 11 A 't i44 Wikl 1 kii C 0 0 on Select Floor Samples I ' I s - A 4444”frqa Z)01C SHOWN: Baker Sofa 50')0 off EJ N'ictor Ferguson Copeland Ilancock & Moore CiemmeIlarden I lickory Ilinkel—I I arris Karges Kindle Maitland—Smith Milling Road— pollliliP of itilF:- 1 — ititiJilt:-:0013- ! 1 4:titt It 0 Sale Ends April 3 Chair tili 'y1011114 111 li Si 014 — I itpli ff ! 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