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Mladic due at extradition hearing | Mladic due at extradition hearing |
(40 minutes later) | |
Former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic is due back in court in the Serbian capital Belgrade for the resumption of an extradition hearing. | Former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic is due back in court in the Serbian capital Belgrade for the resumption of an extradition hearing. |
The session against the 69-year-old was halted on Thursday when his lawyer said he was in "poor physical state". | The session against the 69-year-old was halted on Thursday when his lawyer said he was in "poor physical state". |
Gen Mladic, arrested on Thursday after 16 years on the run, faces genocide charges over the 1992-95 Bosnian war. | Gen Mladic, arrested on Thursday after 16 years on the run, faces genocide charges over the 1992-95 Bosnian war. |
His extradition to the UN war crimes court at The Hague could take a week. | His extradition to the UN war crimes court at The Hague could take a week. |
Gen Mladic was indicted in 1995 for genocide over the killings about 7,500 Bosnian Muslim men and boys that July at Srebrenica - the worst single atrocity in Europe since World War II - and other crimes. | Gen Mladic was indicted in 1995 for genocide over the killings about 7,500 Bosnian Muslim men and boys that July at Srebrenica - the worst single atrocity in Europe since World War II - and other crimes. |
'Delaying tactics' | 'Delaying tactics' |
Gen Mladic's wife, Bosiljka, who recently said she thought her husband was dead, and their son Darko turned up at the court to visit him. | |
The wide, tree-lined village streets were quiet in the early morning sun, as farm workers on old bikes stopped to look at the police guard outside 2 Vuk Karadzic Street, the house where Ratko Mladic was found. One policemen, who told us he lived four doors down, said he'd never seen Gen Mladic. | The wide, tree-lined village streets were quiet in the early morning sun, as farm workers on old bikes stopped to look at the police guard outside 2 Vuk Karadzic Street, the house where Ratko Mladic was found. One policemen, who told us he lived four doors down, said he'd never seen Gen Mladic. |
Other locals say the same. The home itself is like any other on the street - a small cottage with a broken-down car in the yard and an ancient tractor, its damaged doors swinging in the wind. | Other locals say the same. The home itself is like any other on the street - a small cottage with a broken-down car in the yard and an ancient tractor, its damaged doors swinging in the wind. |
Trying to film the house provoked an angry response. A man flew out swearing with fists raised - we later learned he was Gen Mladic's nephew. Some in the close-knit village were vocal in their support of their hidden neighbour, reflecting a deep sense that the world's view of the Balkans war was unfair. | Trying to film the house provoked an angry response. A man flew out swearing with fists raised - we later learned he was Gen Mladic's nephew. Some in the close-knit village were vocal in their support of their hidden neighbour, reflecting a deep sense that the world's view of the Balkans war was unfair. |
The BBC's Mark Lowen, outside the court in Belgrade, asked her how her husband was, but she did not reply. | |
Having lived freely in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, Gen Mladic is believed to have disappeared after the arrest of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in 2001. | Having lived freely in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, Gen Mladic is believed to have disappeared after the arrest of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in 2001. |
Following the arrest of former Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic in 2008, Gen Mladic became the most prominent Bosnian war crimes suspect at large. | Following the arrest of former Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic in 2008, Gen Mladic became the most prominent Bosnian war crimes suspect at large. |
The arrest was hailed internationally. | The arrest was hailed internationally. |
On Thursday, Serbian TV showed footage of the former general wearing a baseball cap and walking slowly as he appeared in court in Belgrade. | On Thursday, Serbian TV showed footage of the former general wearing a baseball cap and walking slowly as he appeared in court in Belgrade. |
The extradition hearing was stopped when Gen Mladic's lawyer, Milos Saljic, said his client was unable to communicate. | The extradition hearing was stopped when Gen Mladic's lawyer, Milos Saljic, said his client was unable to communicate. |
Mr Saljic argued that Mr Mladic - who looked frail and walked slowly during the initial hearing - was unfit to stand trial. | Mr Saljic argued that Mr Mladic - who looked frail and walked slowly during the initial hearing - was unfit to stand trial. |
But a senior Serbian war crimes prosecutor said he believed the defence was exaggerating the general's health problems in an attempt to delay extradition. | But a senior Serbian war crimes prosecutor said he believed the defence was exaggerating the general's health problems in an attempt to delay extradition. |
Protests | Protests |
Reports in Serbian media suggested that one of Gen Mladic's arms was paralysed, which was probably the result of a stroke. | Reports in Serbian media suggested that one of Gen Mladic's arms was paralysed, which was probably the result of a stroke. |
Mr Saljic said: "He is aware that he is under arrest, he knows where he is, and he said he does not recognise The Hague tribunal." | Mr Saljic said: "He is aware that he is under arrest, he knows where he is, and he said he does not recognise The Hague tribunal." |
Court officials believe he will fight the extradition. | Court officials believe he will fight the extradition. |
Serbia had been under intense international pressure to arrest Gen Mladic and send him to the UN International Criminal Tribunal to the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. | Serbia had been under intense international pressure to arrest Gen Mladic and send him to the UN International Criminal Tribunal to the former Yugoslavia in The Hague. |
After the arrest, the government banned public gatherings in an effort to prevent any pro-Mladic demonstrations. | After the arrest, the government banned public gatherings in an effort to prevent any pro-Mladic demonstrations. |
But hundreds of ultra-nationalists clashed with police in the northern city of Novi Sad, and there was a smaller demonstration involving several dozen protesters in the centre of Belgrade. | But hundreds of ultra-nationalists clashed with police in the northern city of Novi Sad, and there was a smaller demonstration involving several dozen protesters in the centre of Belgrade. |
The government is now keen for a speedy extradition of Gen Mladic, whom Serb nationalists still regard as a hero, the BBC's Mark Lowen in Belgrade reports. | The government is now keen for a speedy extradition of Gen Mladic, whom Serb nationalists still regard as a hero, the BBC's Mark Lowen in Belgrade reports. |
President Boris Tadic said Gen Mladic's arrest had brought Serbia and the region closer to reconciliation, and opened the doors to European Union membership. | President Boris Tadic said Gen Mladic's arrest had brought Serbia and the region closer to reconciliation, and opened the doors to European Union membership. |
'Stake-out' | 'Stake-out' |
Mr Tadic rejected criticism that Serbia had been reluctant to seize Gen Mladic. | Mr Tadic rejected criticism that Serbia had been reluctant to seize Gen Mladic. |
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." |
Gen Mladic was seized in the province of Vojvodina in the early hours of Thursday. | Gen Mladic was seized in the province of Vojvodina in the early hours of Thursday. |
He had two guns with him, but put up no resistance, officials said. | He had two guns with him, but put up no resistance, officials said. |
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 single-storey 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 single-storey house was owned by a relative of Gen Mladic and had been under surveillance for the past two weeks, one of the sources added. |
One local resident told the BBC: "I'm really surprised. "My mother lives four doors down from here and I've never seen him." | One local resident told the BBC: "I'm really surprised. "My mother lives four doors down from here and I've never seen him." |
Reports that Gen Mladic had been living under the assumed name Milorad Komodic have been denied by Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic. | Reports that Gen Mladic had been living under the assumed name Milorad Komodic have been denied by Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic. |
Serbian media say 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. | Serbian media say 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. |
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: |