World Notes YUGOSLAVIA

For the second time in four months, demonstrators in Yugoslavia have toppled regional leaders. After two days of giant street protests by as many as 100,000 workers and students in the city of Titograd last week, the entire state and Communist Party leadership of the Republic of Montenegro tendered its resignation. The people responded by dancing in the streets, chanting, "Montenegro has risen" and "Down with armchair politicians."

Last October a similar popular uprising deposed the leadership of the ethnically diverse province of Voivodina. But when Montenegrins tried to follow suit a few days later, riot police brutally crushed their demonstrations. This time police did not intervene as protesters demanded that the government step down for abusing power and mismanaging the economy.

Montenegrins have good reason for their discontent: 25% of workers are jobless, and one-sixth of the population lives below the poverty level. Supporters of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic hailed the resignations as a victory in their drive to change the constitution. Montenegrins identify very closely with the Serbians, considering them almost cousins. Montenegro's rebellion is expected to intensify economic unrest and rekindle tension between Serbia and the northern republics.