Serbian opposition leader Vuk Draskovic said Friday he hopes to secure more support among Russia's political elite in his uphill battle to win power from Serbia's powerful nationalist president, Slobodan Milosevic. Moscow has traditionally been a strong supporter of Milosevic, despite his condemnation in the West for his role in fomenting the violent breakup of Yugoslavia. ""Democratic forces in Serbia need the strong support of democratic Russia,"" Draskovic said at a Moscow press conference. Though he is officially in Moscow to present the Russian edition of his latest novel, ""The Night of the General,"" Draskovic said he also intended to hold political talks. He was scheduled to meet with First Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov later Friday. Though the West eagerly embraced Draskovic and his Zajedno democratic coalition during massive protests last winter against alleged election rigging, Russia was among the last to acknowledge the opposition.

Serbian opposition leader Vuk Draskovic said Friday he hopes to secure more support among Russia's political elite in his uphill battle to win power from Serbia's powerful nationalist president, Slobodan Milosevic. Moscow has traditionally been a strong supporter of Milosevic, despite his condemnation in the West for his role in fomenting the violent breakup of Yugoslavia. ""Democratic forces in Serbia need the strong support of democratic Russia,"" Draskovic said at a Moscow press conference. Though he is officially in Moscow to present the Russian edition of his latest novel, ""The Night of the General,"" Draskovic said he also intended to hold political talks. He was scheduled to meet with First Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov later Friday. Though the West eagerly embraced Draskovic and his Zajedno democratic coalition during massive protests last winter against alleged election rigging, Russia was among the last to acknowledge the opposition.