Authorities close in on Milosevic
WebPosted Fri Mar 30 19:05:22 2001
BELGRADE, YUGOSLAVIA - Former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic waved at supporters from the gate of his villa, amid conflicting reports of his arrest.
INDEPTH: Slobodan Milosevic
The U.S. State Department said Yugoslav officials had informed it that Milosevic was under arrest.
Serbian state television reported Milosevic's arrest, but Milosevic's aides denied that, and the government has not yet issued an official statement.
Milosevic supporters gather
Police surrounded Milosevic's home Friday evening. Hundreds of Milosevic's supporters were also there, chanting his nickname: "Slobo! Slobo!"
Witnesses say some were armed with pistols and clubs, vowing to resist any attempt to take Milosevic away.
After hours of negotiation between the police and Milosevic's bodyguards, a convoy of jeeps, apparently carrying Milosevic, made its way from the house in Belgrade's Dedinje district to the Palace of Justice courthouse.
But Milosevic emerged to greet the supporters who have gathered through the night. He raised his fist briefly before going inside again. So it's unclear whether he was arrested and has now returned to home, or if he ever left the house to begin with.
FROM MARCH 26, 2001: Serbia says UN giving Milosevic 'grace period'
If there was an arrest, it would be prompted by an ultimatum set by the U.S.: if Milosevic wasn't in custody by March 31, the U.S. would cut off about $100 million US in aid.
Milosevic has been indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague. But Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica has said that Milosevic will be tried in a Yugoslav court.
Milosevic ruled Yugoslavia for 13 years
Milosevic has occupied the official residence since he was ousted from power in October 2000.
Slobodan Milosevic
During his rise to power, Milosevic fanned the flames of Serb nationalism to cement his position as leader of Yugoslavia.
In 1999, Milosevic's forces drove hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanians out of the province of Kosovo. Thousands were killed.
For ordering those acts, Milosevic was indicted for suspected war crimes by the UN's international tribunal.
Milosevic clung to power and refused to concede his defeat in a presidential election he had called. A huge crowd stormed the Yugoslav parliament and forced the "Strongman of the Balkans" from office.
FROM OCT. 5, 2000: Milosevic missing as protesters seize Belgrade
Many in the new government of Vojislav Kostunica reject the idea of extraditing Milosevic. They want to try him in Serbia, so his first trial will probably not be for war crimes, but for corruption.
__________________
|