1. High party and state officials from the Milošević's group repeatedly stressed the seriousness of the threat in interviews with the author. Another episode fully reveals the extent to which many from the Milošević's group feared Ivan Stambolic, even many years after he had retired from politics. In August 2000, a month before the presidential election that set in motion the demise of Milošević, there were rumours that Ivan Stambolic might enter the presidential race. This should not have been a reason for concern for either Milošević or a democratic opposition candidate, since Stambolic had never enjoyed popular support in Serbia and could not realistically win but a very small fraction of the vote. Nonetheless, some people from the regime apparently believed that he had become a serious threat again. Stambolic was promptly abducted and murdered. His body was found two and a half years later, during the police investigation following the assassination of Zoran Dindic, the Prime Minister of Serbia.
2. Stambolić, Put u bespuce, pp. 147–148.
3. Stambolić, Put u bespuce, pp. 111–12, 171–172; and Pavlovic, Olako obecana brzina, pp. 75–76.
4. Draža Marković, Špiro Galović and three anonymous high party officials, interviews with the author.
5. High party officials from the younger generation, including supporters and opponents of Milošević, interviews with the author.