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Ratko Mladic arrested: Bosnia war crimes suspect held Ratko Mladic arrested: Bosnia war crimes suspect held
(40 minutes later)
Fugitive Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic has been arrested in Serbia after 16 years on the run.Fugitive Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic has been arrested in Serbia after 16 years on the run.
Gen Mladic, 69, was found in a village in northern Serbia where had been living under an assumed name.Gen Mladic, 69, was found in a village in northern Serbia where had been living under an assumed name.
He faces charges over the massacre of at least 7,500 Bosnian Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica in 1995.He faces charges over the massacre of at least 7,500 Bosnian Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica in 1995.
Serbian President Boris Tadic said the process to extradite the former Bosnian Serb army chief to the war crimes tribunal in The Hague was under way.Serbian President Boris Tadic said the process to extradite the former Bosnian Serb army chief to the war crimes tribunal in The Hague was under way.
Following the arrest of Radovan Karadzic in 2008, Gen Mladic became the most prominent Bosnian war crimes suspect at large.Following the arrest of Radovan Karadzic in 2008, Gen Mladic became the most prominent Bosnian war crimes suspect at large.
His detention, President Tadic said, brought the country and the region closer to reconciliation, and opened the doors to European Union membership. Serbia had been under intense international pressure to arrest him.
He also rejected criticism that Serbia had only taken action following international pressure. The detention, President Tadic said, brought the country and the region closer to reconciliation, and opened the doors to European Union membership.
It is hard to overstate the importance of this arrest here in Serbia. Many people feel the destiny of their country was held hostage by Ratko Mladic. Their hopes of joining the EU were ruled out by Brussels while Mladic was at large.It is hard to overstate the importance of this arrest here in Serbia. Many people feel the destiny of their country was held hostage by Ratko Mladic. Their hopes of joining the EU were ruled out by Brussels while Mladic was at large.
I asked President Tadic if it was a coincidence that he was arrested while the EU was considering Serbia's bid to join the bloc. He said the country had never calculated its search for Mladic - it was always determined to catch him.I asked President Tadic if it was a coincidence that he was arrested while the EU was considering Serbia's bid to join the bloc. He said the country had never calculated its search for Mladic - it was always determined to catch him.
There is still an ultra-nationalist fringe here who see Mladic as a hero - they say he only ever defended Serb interests. But the new, emerging generation in Serbia seem to be tired of the past and its wars - they want to leave that behind and move forward to the future.There is still an ultra-nationalist fringe here who see Mladic as a hero - they say he only ever defended Serb interests. But the new, emerging generation in Serbia seem to be tired of the past and its wars - they want to leave that behind and move forward to the future.
"We have been co-operating with the Hague Tribunal fully from the beginning of the mandate of this government," he said. Mr Tadic also rejected criticism that Serbia had been reluctant to seize Gen Mladic.
Serbian media initially reported that Mr Mladic was already on his way to the UN tribunal for the former Yougoslavia in The Hague. "We have been co-operating with the Hague tribunal fully from the beginning of the mandate of this government," he said.
Serbian media initially reported that Gen Mladic was already on his way to the UN tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague.
But Serbian prosecutors later said the procedure to extradite him might take a week.But Serbian prosecutors later said the procedure to extradite him might take a week.
A spokeswoman for families of Srebrenica victims, Hajra Catic, told AFP news agency: "After 16 years of waiting, for us, the victims' families, this is a relief."A spokeswoman for families of Srebrenica victims, Hajra Catic, told AFP news agency: "After 16 years of waiting, for us, the victims' families, this is a relief."
'Village stake-out''Village stake-out'
Gen Mladic is due to appear before a Serbian judge later on Thursday.Gen Mladic is due to appear before a Serbian judge later on Thursday.
He was arrested in the province of Vojvodina in the early hours of Thursday, Serbian Justice Minister Slobodan Homan told the BBC. He was seized in the province of Vojvodina in the early hours of Thursday, Serbian Justice Minister Slobodan Homan told the BBC.
He was reportedly using the assumed name Milorad Komodic.
Serbian security sources told AFP news agency that three special units had descended on a house in the village of Lazarevo, about 80km (50 miles) north of Belgrade.Serbian security sources told AFP news agency that three special units had descended on a house in the village of Lazarevo, about 80km (50 miles) north of Belgrade.
The house was owned by a relative of Gen Mladic and had been under surveillance for the past two weeks, one of the sources added.The house was owned by a relative of Gen Mladic and had been under surveillance for the past two weeks, one of the sources added.
Gen Mladic was reportedly using the assumed name Milorad Komodic.
The Belgrade broadcaster B-92 radio said he was not in disguise - unlike Mr Karadzic, who had a long beard and a ponytail when he was captured in Belgrade three years ago.
UN war crimes chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz welcomed the arrest, saying: "Today's events show that people responsible for grave violations of international humanitarian law can no longer count on impunity."UN war crimes chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz welcomed the arrest, saying: "Today's events show that people responsible for grave violations of international humanitarian law can no longer count on impunity."
Mr Brammertz said UN prosecutors thanked the Serbian authorities for "meeting their obligations towards the tribunal and towards justice".Mr Brammertz said UN prosecutors thanked the Serbian authorities for "meeting their obligations towards the tribunal and towards justice".
In other reaction:
  • US deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said the US was "delighted"
  • UK Foreign Secretary William Hague hailed the arrest was a "historic moment"
  • Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said it finally offered "a chance for justice to be done"
  • French President Nicolas Sarkozy said it was "a very courageous decision by the Serbian presidency"
  • Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said Serbia's EU prospects were "now brighter than ever"
Gen Mladic was indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague in 1995 for genocide over the killings that July at Srebrenica - the worst single atrocity in Europe since World War II - and other alleged crimes.Gen Mladic was indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague in 1995 for genocide over the killings that July at Srebrenica - the worst single atrocity in Europe since World War II - and other alleged crimes.
Having lived freely in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, he disappeared after the arrest of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in 2001.Having lived freely in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, he disappeared after the arrest of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in 2001.
Speculation mounted that Gen Mladic would eventually be arrested when Mr Karadzic was captured in Belgrade in July 2008.Speculation mounted that Gen Mladic would eventually be arrested when Mr Karadzic was captured in Belgrade in July 2008.
Larry Hollingworth, a logistics officer with the UN refugee agency who regularly met Gen Mladic during the Bosnian war, said he was "absolutely delighted" by news of the arrest. In a message from his UN cell in the Hague, Mr Karadzic said he was sorry Gen Mladic has been arrested.
"He was a very, very imposing figure and managed to frighten a lot of people - certainly those who worked for him," he told BBC Radio 4. The Bosnian Serb leader added that he wanted to work with him "to bring out the truth" about the Bosnian war, in a message relayed to the Associated Press by his lawyer.
In other reaction:
  • US deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said the US was "delighted"
  • UK Foreign Secretary William Hague hailed the arrest was a "historic moment"
  • Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen said it finally offered "a chance for justice to be done"
  • French President Nicolas Sarkozy said it was "a very courageous decision by the Serbian presidency"
  • Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said Serbia's EU prospects were "now brighter than ever"
Are you in Serbia? What is your reaction to the arrest of Ratko Mladic? Should Serbia be allowed to join the EU? Send us your comments using the form below:Are you in Serbia? What is your reaction to the arrest of Ratko Mladic? Should Serbia be allowed to join the EU? Send us your comments using the form below: