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Armed man 'in Serbian presidency' Armed man 'in Serbian presidency'
(about 1 hour later)
Police in the Serbian capital Belgrade are negotiating with a man who has entered the president's offices with two hand grenades, say reports. Police in the Serbian capital Belgrade are negotiating with a man who has entered the president's office buildings holding two hand grenades.
He is said to be angry over a legal case and has threatened to explode the grenade if his case is not addressed. He is said to be angry over a legal case and has threatened to detonate the grenade if his case is not addressed.
Report say the man had sent thousands of e-mails warning of his intentions.Report say the man had sent thousands of e-mails warning of his intentions.
A spokeswoman for President Boris Tadic said the man had been isolated by police but would not confirm whether the president was in the building. Media reports said President Boris Tadic had arrived at the building shortly after the incident began but officials said he was not in danger.
Jasmina Stojanov said the man, identified as 57-year-old Dragan Maric, had approached the entrance to the building used by journalists and members of the public. Jasmina Stojanov, a spokeswoman for Mr Tadic, said the man had approached the entrance to the building used by journalists and members of the public.
"He's now sealed off in a safety area between two entrance doors, one of them armoured doors," she said. She said he was "sealed off in a safety area between two entrance doors, one of them armoured doors", and had not entered secure areas.
"The police took one of the bombs from the man, but he is still holding another in his hand." "The police took one of the bombs from the man, but he is still holding another in his hand," she said.
Ms Stojanov would not confirm whether Mr Tadic was in the building but said his "security detail is taking care of him".Ms Stojanov would not confirm whether Mr Tadic was in the building but said his "security detail is taking care of him".
Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac is on the scene, along with armed police.Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac is on the scene, along with armed police.
Officials have not confirmed the man's motives, but he has been informally identified as 57-year-old Dragan Maric, a former businessman already known to the police.
The BBC's Serbian language service said Mr Maric is fighting a legal case against the state over multi-million dollar companies he says he owns.
He once staged an 80-day hunger strike in front of parliament to draw attention to his cause.
UltimatumUltimatum
Officials have not confirmed whether Mr Tadic is in the buildingOfficials have not confirmed whether Mr Tadic is in the building
A police source told the AFP news agency the man had left one grenade at the entrance to the building and gone inside "with the safety pin removed from the second". A police source told the AFP news agency Mr Maric had left one grenade at the entrance to the building, on Andricev Venac Square, and gone inside "with the safety pin removed from the second".
"A police negotiating team went to the presidency building to try to convince the man to give himself up," said the source."A police negotiating team went to the presidency building to try to convince the man to give himself up," said the source.
Serbian public RTS TV said the man had a grudge against the judiciary over a lengthy legal process.Serbian public RTS TV said the man had a grudge against the judiciary over a lengthy legal process.
AFP reported that he was "disappointed by a decision" made by a commercial tribunal.AFP reported that he was "disappointed by a decision" made by a commercial tribunal.
He had "demanded in an e-mail which he has sent to 11,000 addresses that his case should be resolved by 4:00pm (1400 GMT)" or he would detonate a grenade, said the agency's unidentified source.He had "demanded in an e-mail which he has sent to 11,000 addresses that his case should be resolved by 4:00pm (1400 GMT)" or he would detonate a grenade, said the agency's unidentified source.
The nearby Kralja Milana Street is reported to have been closed to traffic.The nearby Kralja Milana Street is reported to have been closed to traffic.
The news comes a day after US Vice-president Joe Biden became the most senior American to visit Serbia since the 1999 conflict in Kosovo. The news comes a day after US Vice-President Joe Biden became the most senior American to visit Serbia since the 1999 conflict in Kosovo.