By DUSAN STOJANOVIC Associated Press Writer

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia (AP) -- Washington may claim the violence-plagued rule of Slobodan

Milosevic is weakening, but the Yugoslav president's supporters and even some critics at home say he is

as strong as ever.

Ignoring U.S. pressure on his government, he is purging the police and military in apparent preparation

for another major crackdown: this time on pro-independence elements in Montenegro, the small republic

that with Serbia forms present-day Yugoslavia.

The purge prompted State Department spokesman James P. Rubin to declare last Monday that ``President

Milosevic's grip on power is weakening.''

Rubin accused Milosevic of being ``at the center of every crisis'' during and since the breakup of the old

Yugoslav federation. ``He is not simply part of the problem; Milosevic is the problem,'' the spokesman

added.

Washington has always blamed Milosevic for the ethnic conflicts in the Balkans, and it imposed

diplomatic and economic sanctions on his government. But the Clinton administration has worked closely

with him since 1995 trying to ensure a lasting peace in Bosnia, formerly a Yugoslav republic.

Rubin's remarks led to news media speculation that Washington has concluded that there cannot be a

secure peace with Milosevic in power and is encouraging his ouster.

Yet many of Milosevic's domestic allies and opponents alike agree that his rule is as strong as ever, and

that the recent sacking of army chief Gen. Momcilo Perisic and secret police head Jovica Stanisic herald

more trouble for the Balkans.

Both were replaced by officers loyal to Milosevic's neo-communist wife, Mirjana Markovic. Her

hard-line loyalists have recently assumed most top posts in Yugoslavia, further strengthening Milosevic.

Perisic and Stanisic had publicly opposed any crackdown on Montenegro, which many people fear would

bring bloodshed similar to past violence in Bosnia, Croatia and Slovenia.

``Their sacking will have negative consequences for Montenegro,'' said Serbia's opposition leader, Vesna

Pesic.

Milosevic also has moved against independent news media -- the only real source of information for most

Yugoslavs -- by introducing harsh press laws and banning and closing newspapers and radio stations. He

recently purged Belgrade University, the traditional center of rebellion, by sacking professors and

replacing them with his supporters.

Despite the new crackdown -- and unhappiness over Yugoslavia's deep economic problems -- there have

been no street protests like those two years ago when Milosevic's rule was seriously shaken by three

months of demonstrations. Those protests ended in a major disappointment for his opponents when their

leaders split up over personal differences.

Military and police purges have been common for Milosevic before major actions against his opponents,

and his opponents say the latest ousters were a clear sign of his strength rather than weakness.

The purges ``seem to me like a reorganization of his ranks before a new offensive against Montenegro,''

said the republic's pro-Western president, Milo Djukanovic, a strong critic of Milosevic.

Milosevic ``has remained in power for years by engineering crisis,'' Djukanovic said.

Elected last year over a Milosevic ally, Djukanovic has been targeted by state-run Yugsolav media,

which regularly criticize his pro-Western, reformist and independent-minded views.

Some said Yugoslavia's main problem is the lack of an alternative to Milosevic.

``The democratic changes in our country depend less on America than on the local population, which I'm

not sure is fed up with Milosevic,'' said Dejan Anastasijevic, an analyst for the independent Belgrade

weekly Vreme.

Montenegro's deputy parliament spokesman, Predrag Popovic, agreed. He said Milosevic ``will not leave

his duties soon, despite some announcements from Washington.''

Asked about the comments from Washington, Milosevic spokesman Ivica Dacic said: ``The hatred is

mutual.''

Milosevic's ultra-nationalist ally, Vojislav Seselj, was even more blunt: ``Those supported by Americans

have no chance in Serbia. There is a curse in Serbia: `Hope Americans support you in the elections.'''

AP-NY-12-06-98 1443EST