[ALBSA-Info] Former Yugoslav Strongman Milosevic Arrested

[Iris Pilika]

Friday March 30 5:12 PM ET
Former Yugoslav Strongman Milosevic Arrested



BELGRADE (Reuters) - Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic (news - 
web sites) was arrested on Friday, a source close to the Serbian government 
said.

The development came on the eve of a deadline set by U.S. legislation for 
President Bush (news - web sites) to declare Yugoslavia is cooperating with 
the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal, which has indicted Milosevic, or impose 
economic sanctions on Belgrade.

Milosevic was to be transferred to a justice administration building in 
central Belgrade, the source told Reuters.

``He has been arrested and he should be brought to the palace of justice,'' 
the source said. Belgrade's B92 radio station also reported the arrest, 
citing well-informed sources.

A convoy of jeeps, including two with darkened windows, later entered the 
courthouse building at around 11:30 p.m.

A Reuters reporter said one of the jeeps with darkened windows moved out of 
reporters' view after entering the building. Local BK television said 
Milosevic was in one of the vehicles, quoting policemen at the scene.

One source close to the government said he was suspected of several crimes, 
including abuse of office.

But an official in Milosevic's Socialist party denied he had been arrested. 
``I am right here with him. This is nonsense,'' Socialist Party vice 
president Zivorad Igic told Belgrade's B92 radio by telephone.

However Igic refused the radio presenter's request to put Milosevic himself 
on the telephone to prove he was still free.

Opposition leader Vuk Draskovic from the Serbian Renewqal Movement told BBC 
Television: ``That's very clear -- Milosevic is arrested. I don't know what 
is the charge. But anyway he is responsible for many, many terrible 
things.''

Earlier on Friday, a police van, an ambulance and several unmarked cars 
showed up near the former Yugoslav president's home, sparking speculation 
that his arrest was imminent.

Deputies of Milosevic's Socialist party rushed to their leader's home in the 
exclusive Dedinje district of Belgrade to join a band of his supporters 
after they informed parliament that the vehicles had arrived.

Yugoslavia's new reformist rulers have said the former leader will not be 
arrested on war crimes charges before the U.S. deadline.

But they have left open the possibility that local justice authorities might 
order his arrest for alleged offences such as corruption.

A spokesman for the U.N. war crimes tribunal in the Hague, Jim Landale, told 
Reuters on hearing the reports of Milosevic's arrest: ``Our position is 
exactly the same as it has always been.

``Yugoslavia has a legal obligation under international law to transfer all 
fugitives on their territory, of which we believe there is a substantial 
number.

``If Milosevic is in custody, that can only make that international legal 
obligation easier to fulfil. We expect him to be transferred to the tribunal 
at the earliest possible opportunity.''



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