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Ex-Bosnian leader freed on bail | |
(20 minutes later) | |
Former Bosnian President Ejup Ganic, who was arrested at London's Heathrow Airport over war crimes allegations, has been given bail by the High Court. | Former Bosnian President Ejup Ganic, who was arrested at London's Heathrow Airport over war crimes allegations, has been given bail by the High Court. |
Mr Ganic was detained on 1 March at the request of Serbia and is accused of killing wounded Bosnian Serb soldiers in 1992 during the Balkan wars. | Mr Ganic was detained on 1 March at the request of Serbia and is accused of killing wounded Bosnian Serb soldiers in 1992 during the Balkan wars. |
His lawyers say moves to make him face trial in Serbia are politically motivated and his arrest is illegal. | His lawyers say moves to make him face trial in Serbia are politically motivated and his arrest is illegal. |
Lord Justice Laws granted the 64-year-old bail on "stringent" conditions. | Lord Justice Laws granted the 64-year-old bail on "stringent" conditions. |
Mr Ganic, a friend of Baroness Thatcher, was a wartime leader who briefly acted as president. | Mr Ganic, a friend of Baroness Thatcher, was a wartime leader who briefly acted as president. |
He was indicted last year by a Belgrade court, along with 18 others, over an incident in which 42 soldiers from the Yugoslav army were said to have been killed. | |
[The arrest] in no way amounts to a diplomatic or political statement by the British government Foreign Officer | |
It is alleged to have happened at the start of the conflict, after Bosnia had declared independence from the Serb-led former Yugoslavia. | |
Serbia says the Yugoslav convoy, accompanied by UN peacekeepers, was attacked during the retreat from a Bosnian Muslim area of Sarajevo in violation of a safe passage pact. | |
Clare Montgomery QC, for Mr Ganic, says the allegations have already been rejected by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. | Clare Montgomery QC, for Mr Ganic, says the allegations have already been rejected by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. |
Extradition agreements give the Serbian authorities 45 days from the date of arrest to make their extradition request. | Extradition agreements give the Serbian authorities 45 days from the date of arrest to make their extradition request. |
After his arrest, thousands of Bosnians protested outside the British and Serbian embassies in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo demanding his release. | |
Previously Westminster magistrates had refused bail on the grounds there was a danger of Mr Ganic leaving the country and he had been remanded to Wandsworth Prison. | Previously Westminster magistrates had refused bail on the grounds there was a danger of Mr Ganic leaving the country and he had been remanded to Wandsworth Prison. |
But bailing him to appear again before Westminster magistrates on 13 April, Lord Justice Laws said that £300,000 had been provided as security by a "well-wisher" described as "a lady of substantial means". | |
Nightly curfew | |
Buckingham University vice-chancellor Dr Terence Kealey had also offered a £25,000 surety, which was accepted by the court. | Buckingham University vice-chancellor Dr Terence Kealey had also offered a £25,000 surety, which was accepted by the court. |
Mr Ganic had attended a degree ceremony at the university, which is partnered with the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology of which he is president, hours before he was arrested. | Mr Ganic had attended a degree ceremony at the university, which is partnered with the Sarajevo School of Science and Technology of which he is president, hours before he was arrested. |
Foreign Secretary David Miliband had underlined that the arrest was a "judicial matter" at a meeting on Thursday with Dr Haris Silajdzic, chairman of the joint presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Foreign Office said. | |
The arrest "in no way amounts to a diplomatic or political statement by the British government or any UK point of view on past events in the Western Balkans", said a spokesman. | |
Mr Ganic's bail conditions including staying at an undisclosed London address, observing a nightly curfew and not applying for a passport or travel document. | |
He must also report daily to a London police station. | He must also report daily to a London police station. |