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Mladic due at extradition hearing Mladic declared fit to be tried
(40 minutes later)
Former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic has been declared fit to stand trial and can be extradited. Ex-Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic has been declared fit to stand trial and can be extradited from Serbia.
Judge Maja Kovacevic said the conditions for transfer had been met. Court spokeswoman Maja Kovacevic said the transfer conditions had been met.
Gen Mladic's legal team says he is in poor health and that they will appeal on Monday. They have requested that he be admitted to hospital over concerns about his health.Gen Mladic's legal team says he is in poor health and that they will appeal on Monday. They have requested that he be admitted to hospital over concerns about his health.
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.
He was indicted in 1995 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.He was indicted in 1995 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' Assessment call
Gen Mladic's wife Bosiljka and their son Darko turned up at the court to visit him. Judge Kovacevic told reporters outside the court that Gen Mladic's health was good enough for him to stand trial.
Darko told journalists his father was innocent and not in a fit state to be sent to The Hague. "It has been certified that Ratko Mladic is healthy enough to take part in that [extradition], because all medical examinations have been carried out and we got an assessment that he's capable, despite the fact that he suffers from a number of chronic conditions."
She added that he had "refused to accept the indictment".
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 court, says Mrs Mladic only recently said she thought her husband was dead. Defence lawyer Milos Saljic said an appeal would be submitted on Monday. The BBC's Mark Lowen, outside the court, says this makes it unlikely he would leave Serbia before Tuesday.
Gen Mladic's wife Bosiljka and their son Darko turned up at the court to visit him.
Darko told journalists his father was innocent and not in a fit state to be sent to The Hague.
He said the family was asking for an assessment of his health by independent experts, including some from Russia.
Our correspondent says Mrs Mladic only recently said she thought her husband was dead.
Having lived freely in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, Gen Mladic is believed to have gone into hiding 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 gone into hiding after the arrest of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in 2001.
Following the detention of former Bosnian Serb political leader Radovan Karadzic in 2008, Gen Mladic became the most prominent Bosnian war crimes suspect at large.Following the detention 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 for the first time.On Thursday, Serbian TV showed footage of the former general wearing a baseball cap and walking slowly as he appeared in court in Belgrade for the first time.
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.
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. The session resumed on Friday.
ProtestsProtests
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."
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, our correspondent says.
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." Local resident Zora Prodanovic 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 Komadic 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: