Opposition supporters have given Milosevic an ultimatum

England have

Opposition supporters from across Serbia have stormed the Yugoslav parliament building in Belgrade proclaiming Vojislav Kostunica as the new Yugoslav president.

Sporadic skirmishes between Mr Kostunica's supporters and security forces across Belgrade have been light and short-lived.

Demonstrators also ransacked the headquarters of the propaganda mouthpiece of the Milosevic regime, Radio Television Serbia, and set the building on fire forcing three state channels off the air.

Independent radio station B2-92 has announced that senior army officials have made contact with the opposition and withdrawn their forces from the centre of the capital.

The relatively peaceful revolution began with a rally this morning to contest the legitimacy of President Milosevic's regime and his efforts to maintain his authority.

A state radio broadcast just before 1100 local time (0900 GMT) announced the Constitutional Court had annulled last month's presidential election and ordered a re-vote, effectively giving Mr Milosevic another year in power.

But opposition leaders in turn gave Milosevic an ultimatum to surrender power by 1500 (1300 GMT). They then filed criminal charges against him for vote rigging.

In the early afternoon police fired tear gas into the huge crowds of Kostunica supporters surrounding the state parliament.

Protestors were temporarily halted at the steps of the building before police withdrew. Some officers even joined the demonstration themselves.

Using a bulldozer to gain entry, groups then made their way inside, lighting fires and smashing furniture and computer equipment.

Britain and the US have given their support to the popular uprising and have urged Mr Milosevic to stand down.

President Bill Clinton said the US stood by those who were "fighting for their freedom". Meanwhile the Yugoslav state news agency Tanjug has asserted its independence from state control.

Mr Kostunica is expected to address a vast crowd assembled in front of the Yugoslav parliament shortly.

If Russia gives its blessing and the Yugoslav army officially recognises Mr Kostunica's legitimacy he could be sworn in as president by the end of the week.

Up to 70 fireman are working at the scene

Thirty-nine people are seriously injured, with three critically ill and 11 in intensive care.

There are thought to be some 200 with minor injuries.

Many more passengers could still be trapped in the wreckage, said Chief Inspector Brian Gosden of British Transport Police.

Hospitals across the capital are taking in casualties. St Mary's Hospital has cancelled all out-patient appointments to treat most of the wounded.

The walking wounded are being treated at a local school and Sainsbury's supermarket.

A Thames Trains 0806 BST from Paddington to Bedwyn in Wiltshire collided with the incoming 0603 BST Great Western 125 express train from Cheltenham at 0811 BST.

Carriages came off the track and one train burst into flames. A massive column of smoke could be seen across west London.

Up to 30 ambulances, 12 fire engines and 70 firefighters rushed to the scene.

Mark Rogers, a passenger on the 0806, said: "There was an almighty crash and the train rolled over and over, first onto its roof and then onto its side.

"One woman I saw thrown out of the window and she was trapped beneath the train. She was at least very severely injured.

"It is absolute pandemonium. "

Mr Rogers said the carriage behind the driver had been "ripped apart like a sardine can" and was lying over the top of the 125 Great Western train.

"It is chaos. There are doors and broken glass lying everywhere."

Prime Minister Tony Blair said: "I am absolutely appalled by what is a truly dreadful tragedy."

Transport Secretary John Prescott has promised a public inquiry into the crash and praised the "swift efforts of all the emergency services".

Conservative Transport spokesman John Redwood said: "We need a proper inquiry and we need some answers for the future."

The trains collided on the same stretch of line as the Southall rail crash in 1997, in which seven people died and 150 were injured.

Health and Safety Executive inspectors are at the scene.

sporadic: occurring singly, or apart from other things of the same kind, or in scattered instances; separate; single;（零星的）

skirmish :a minor short-term fight（小沖突）

appall: fill with apprehension or alarm; cause to be unpleasantly surprised（驚駭）