Serbian Official Resigns, Threatening Government

Serbia's government teetered on the edge of collapse as a split widened within the ruling coalition.

Serbia's parliamentary speaker, Dragan Marsicanin, resigned following a dispute that pitted Marsicanin, who belongs to Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica's party, against Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic's party. Serbia is Yugoslavia's dominant republic.

The assembly had been set to vote on a motion by Djindjic's allies to sack Marsicanin. Before quitting, Marsicanin warned that if he were removed, his allies would demand a no-confidence vote for the government. If the government fell, new elections would probably follow.

Natasa Micic of the Civic Alliance was named to replace Marsicanin.