A BELGRADE municipal court has upheld a previous decision rejecting an election victory by Serbia's opposition in the capital, an electoral commission official said yesterday.
The First District Court dismissed appeals from the city's electoral commission demanding the recognition of the opposition victory, commission chief Mr Radomir Lazarevic said.
Court annulments of opposition victories in municipal elections have prompted more than two months of street protests in Serbia that have grown into demands for an end to President Slobodan Milosevic's authoritarian rule.
The city electoral commission had confirmed the opposition Zajedno (Together) coalition won a majority in the Belgrade municipal assembly, but the courts, under the control of ruling Socialists, overturned the decision.
In a march yesterday called by powerful Serbian Orthodox church, which is now supporting the demonstrators in their protests against election fraud, thousands of people filed solemnly through Belgrade.
Witnesses said the march was the biggest since half a million people turned out on Orthodox New Year's Eve two weeks ago. It showed support still ran strong for the pro democracy movement after more than two months of protests.
Patriarch Pavle, head of the church, who is in his 80s, led the procession, estimated at up to 200,000 strong at its peak, through sunny but freezing early morning streets on the holy day of St Sava.
The patriarch, flanked by about 20 chanting priests, walked 3km to celebrate Mass at the Temple of St Sava, patron saint of educators.
It was the first daytime march in Belgrade since a ban was imposed following clashes between opposition and pro government demonstrators on December 24th.
The march was held on the day that an opposition municipal council was due to be sworn in for Nis, Serbia's second biggest city and one of 14 where opposition victories in November were annulled. The government later ordered the opposition win in Nis to be reinstated.
Police made way for the patriarch's procession by withdrawing a cordon blocking student demonstrators who had held a non stop rally for eight days in a test of will with the authorities.
After police had withdrawn, 50,000 students and their supporters swept triumphantly through the city in a boisterous, whistle blowing march. The students later linked up with the church procession.
The church's involvement has stepped up the pressure on President Milosevic to acknowledge the victories by Zajedno.
Later yesterday, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister, Mr Igor Ivanov, was due to meet President Milosevic in an effort to help break the stand off.
Western diplomats said Mr Ivanov's visit came as a surprise. But they were cautious about suggesting it could lead to a breakthrough.
. The United States has made a formal protest to Serbia about the use of police violence on demonstrators.