TUESDAY OCTOBER 10 2000

Dictator told to leave his palace

FROM DANIEL MCGRORY IN BELGRADE
 

SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC faces eviction from his official residence. President Kostunica has insisted that the mansion, known as the White Palace, must be handed back to its rightful owners — Serbia's exiled royals. 

No date has been set for Mr Milosevic and his wife, Mira, to vacate the premises, which belong to the heirs of the Karadjordjevic dynasty, who live in London. The removal of the former dictator from his surroundings in the wealthy Belgrade suburb of Dedinje and a planned referendum on the monarchy are the latest populist moves through which Mr Kostunica has managed to keep up the momentum of change. 

He said that he was not taking the White Palace from his predecessor out of spite. As a constitutional lawyer, he has ordered an investigation into Mr Milosevic's private financial dealings and believes that he must be answerable to the courts in Yugoslavia. 

His aides have warned of a dangerous precedent if the White Palace is returned to the exiled royals, as many other wealthy families will launch claims over their properties seized by the State. 

The Karadjordjevics, Serb royalty who ruled Yugoslavia from 1918 to 1941, built the White Palace in an area that is now crowded with villas and mansions owned by foreign embassies and businessmen who profited from Milosevic's patronage. It was in the palace that Mr Milosevic performed his last official duties.