Karadzic to go to The Hague

2008-07-22 15:51

Belgrade - Arrested Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic will be transferred to the UN tribunal in The Hague once legal obstacles are cleared, Serbia's war crimes prosecutor said on Tuesday.

Karadzic "was questioned overnight, his identity was established and he was given the indictment" of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Vladimir Vukcevic told a Belgrade press conference.

"An examining magistrate, I am aware, has already brought a decision that all conditions have been met for his transfer to The Hague," added the chief Serbian war crimes prosecutor.

Vukcevic, who heads the so-called action team charged with tracking down and arresting war crime suspects, said that during questioning, Karadzic "mostly used his right to remain silent".

Serbian Minister Rasim Ljajic, chairperson of the National Council for cooperation with the ICTY, told reporters Karadzic was "arrested near Belgrade while he moved from one location to another".

Vukcevic said the action began on Monday afternoon and "was conducted successfully with the lowest possible security risk".

Officials said Karadzic had used a false identity, posing as a Dragan Dabic and practiced alternative medicine in a private Belgrade clinic.

- AFP