Serbian PM's death: Singer held

2003-03-17 17:40

Belgrade - Heavy Serbian security forces on Monday stormed a Belgrade house belonging to the widow of slain paramilitary leader Zeljko Raznatovic, better known as Arkan, in further efforts to track down the killers of prime minister Zoran Djindjic.

Belgrade radio B92 reported that police arrested Arkan's widow Svetlana Raznatovic because of "her close ties with the main suspects" in Djindjic's murder - notably former special police chief Milorad Lukovic and Dusan Spasojevic.

"The investigation has shown that Raznatovic has been in contact with them prior and after the assassination" of Djindjic on Wednesday, the radio said, quoting sources close to the inquiry. It also said both Lukovic and Spasojevic had stayed at her house, "before and after the assassination".

The radio said police were expected to officially confirm the arrest.

Raznatovic, a folk singer better known by her nickname Ceca, "has financially supported" another suspect, B92 said.

Earlier, around 50 heavily armed members of anti-terrorist units from the paramilitary police and police surrounded Ceca's immense estate around 07:40.

They detained an as-yet unknown number of personal security deployed in and around the house, located in the upscale Belgrade suburb Dedinje.

Arkan, who is still considered by many as a national hero, led the infamous paramilitary unit The Tigers, and was blamed for numerous atrocities during the Balkan wars in the 1990s.

Lukovic, the prime suspect in Djindjic's shooting, belonged to the Tigers before heading up the Serbian paramilitary group, the Red Berets.

Ceca, Arkan's widow, was named by Belgrade's daily Politika at the weekend as one of several celebrities suspected of having provided shelter to Djindjic's killers.

Since Arkan's murder in January 2000 in a posh Belgrade hotel, Ceca has reportedly kept links with former members of the Tigers. - Sapa-AFP

- SAPA