Mladic located, will be arrested soon: report

BELGRADE (Reuters) – A Serbian daily said on Wednesday top
war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic had been found and would be
arrested near month-end, in time for Serbia to avert a
suspension of key talks with the European Union.

The report is part of the latest wave of speculation about
Belgrade’s moves to bring Mladic to justice. His handover is
crucial to Serbia’s bid to join the European mainstream after
the wars of the 1990s.

Kurir daily quoted “several independent, well-informed
sources close to the Serbian government” as saying Mladic had
been located after months of investigations by Serb and foreign
agents. He was now surrounded, with his communications cut off.

“Mladic has no way out,” said one source on condition of
anonymity. “He was located some 20 days ago on the territory of
one of the former Yugoslav republics. The final preparations
for his arrest are being made, and as things stand that will
happen around the May Day holiday to prevent a huge media
circus.”

The source said the investigative team consisted mainly of
British MI6 intelligence agents, as well as CIA agents and
agents of the Serb BIA intelligence agency.

Mladic, who led Bosnian Serb forces during the 1992-95 war,
is indicted for genocide for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre of
8,000 Muslims and the 43-month siege of Sarajevo which killed
more than 10,000 civilians.

United Nations Chief Prosecutor Carla Del Ponte says he is
in Serbia, protected by hardliners. Belgrade denies knowing the
whereabouts of the former general or being in contact with him
but says it will soon meet EU demands for his handover.

In early April, Del Ponte said Serbia promised her that
Mladic would be in the Hague tribunal before month-end. Del
Ponte convinced the EU to go ahead with talks on closer ties
rather than suspend them, on the understanding he would be in
the dock before the next round of talks in May.

A close friend of Mladic told Kurir on Wednesday the former
commander would not go to The Hague willingly.

“I know Ratko and two things are certain — he will not
surrender and he will not shoot himself. All other options are
open,” said the unnamed friend.