Zoran Djindjic, one of the opposition leaders who spearheaded the street protests, was elected mayor. Representatives of the hard-line nationalist faction, allied with Milosevic, repeatedly tried to disrupt the proceedings. A series of collapsed pyramid schemes in Albania have caused widespread hardship among millions faced with the potential loss of their life savings. In an attempt to ease some of his country's economic pain, President Sali Berisha absolved the people of the southern region of the need to pay taxes for two years. Lights go out in large sections of Istanbul and Ankara every night in protest against government corruption scandals.
Japan is likely to seek extradition.
The Red Army, founded in 1971 by radical leftists, has been based in Lebanon since the 1970s. Israel Television reported that Deri made his support for January's Hebron deal contingent on Bar-On's nomination. Bar-On, in return, was to arrange a plea bargain for Deri. Bar-On resigned a day after his appointment, following protests that he was unqualified for the position. Netanyahu denied the allegations.