By August 2000, when Stambolic disappeared while jogging in a Belgrade park, the two had become bitter opponents; Stambolic was seen as a possible challenger to Milosevic in presidential elections the same year.
Pana in august 2000, cand Stambolic a disparut in timp ce alerga intr-un parc belgradean, cei doi au devenit adversari inversunati; Stambolic a fost considerat drept un posibil rival al lui Milosevic in alegerile prezidentiale din acelasi an.