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Mladic located, will be arrested soon: report

Posted on: Wednesday, 19 April 2006, 05:52 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

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