The influential Serbian Orthodox Church demonstrated its support for the president-elect, Mr Vojislav Kostunica, yesterday by urging him to take control of the country in a peaceful way.
The move sent a powerful signal that the church was satisfied Mr Kostunica had defeated President Slobodan Milosevic. It came as the opposition announced plans for a widespread protest campaign to force Mr Milosevic to admit defeat.
"We will call people on to the streets and tell them not to leave until he gives up power," said one opposition leader, Mr Zoran Djindjic.
During a meeting with Mr Kostunica, the church's highest body, the Holy Synod, urged him to "take over the helm of the state, its parliament and municipalities, in as peaceful and as dignified a manner as possible".
The church holds no direct political power in Yugoslavia, but it holds great moral sway with the population, which recognises it as a pillar of rectitude in a corrupt society.
One analyst said the move by the church would further reinforce support for Mr Kostunica among the army and police, whose attitude will be crucial if Mr Milosevic seeks to use them to quell street protests.
The church statement came the morning after more than 200,000 Kostunica supporters packed Belgrade and 30 other cities across Serbia in rallies celebrating his victory.
The opposition has threatened "civil disobedience" as a means to pressure Mr Milosevic to step down. The Milosevic regime and Mr Kostunica's supporters are locked in stalemate because the Federal Election Commission has released final election figures showing neither candidate with a majority.
According to opposition figures, Mr Kostunica is ahead with 52 per cent of the vote, which would give him an outright win in the first round.
The Federal Election Commission, however, gives Mr Kostunica 48 per cent. This figure puts him ahead of Mr Milosevic, who it says has 38 per cent, but is not sufficient for an outright win. In addition to the two main contenders, there were three other presidential candidates: Mr Miroljub Vidojkovic, Mr Vojislav Mihailovic and Mr Tomislav Nikolic.
The opposition is seeking to gain acknowledgment from the commission that its results are right. It is also planning to take legal action against judges in the commission who, it says, have breached their legal responsibilities as laid down in the electoral law.
Mr Goran Svilanovic, an opposition leader, said the opposition parties would insist on the recognition of the will of the people, which could be proved by the voting records. "Our copies of the records will be made available to the Federal Election Commission, to Milosevic, as well as to the army and police, to everyone," he said.
Mr Sinisa Nikolic, an opposition member of the Federal Election Commission, said 300 out of the 10,000 polling stations never reported. He accused the commission of reducing the overall total by 600,000 votes.