SERBIAN LEADERS APPLAUD AT THE BEGINNING OF CONGRESS IN BELGRADE, 2000-02-17 (photo)

(L to R) Mira Markovic, leader of the Yugoslav Left Party, wife and coalition partner of the Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Ljubisa Ristic, President of the Yugoslav Left Party, Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Marjanovic, Serbian parliament speaker Dragan Tomic and Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic applaud at the beginning of the fourth congress of the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS) in Belgrade February 17. The party congress comes with Milosevic facing increased pressure both at home and abroad and the President is expected to make personnel changes within his party in a bid to boost its chances of winning local elections later this year. PEK/FMS