Mladic extradition appeal rejected
Source: Agencies |
June 1, 2011, Wednesday
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JUDGES have rejected an appeal by war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic seeking to stop his extradition to a UN tribunal, Serbia's chief war crimes prosecutor said yesterday, paving the way for his quick hand-over to face charges for the worst atrocities in Europe since World War II.
The former Bosnian Serb commander will be extradited to The Hague, Netherlands "as soon as possible," Vladimir Vukcevic said. The Belgrade court made the decision just hours after it said it received the appeal in the mail arguing the 69-year-old is not mentally and physically fit to stand trial.
By late afternoon, the main highway leading to Belgrade airport was blocked by security forces and there was a heavy security presence in front of the courthouse, leading to speculation officials were preparing for Mladic's imminent departure.
A convoy of some five armored cars was seen leaving the jail, but it was not clear if Mladic was in one of them.
Mladic attorney Milos Saljic visited him in his jail cell in the early afternoon and said the ex-general was crying and very emotional during what he called a farewell visit by his wife and sister. They brought him a big suitcase with clothing he will need in The Hague, Saljic said.
Serbian Justice Minister Snezana Malovic was expected to announce yesterday that she had signed the extradition order.
Asked if this means that the transfer will happen yesterday, Vukcevic said "not necessarily."
"It will depend on the evaluation on how this should be done so as not to disturb the public," he said, adding no one will be informed when Mladic will be transported from prison to be flown to the Netherlands because of security risks.
Mladic is charged at the tribunal for atrocities committed by his Serb troops during Bosnia's 1992-95 war, including the notorious Srebrenica massacre that left 8,000 Muslim men and boys dead - the worst atrocity against civilians in Europe since World War II.
Mladic was arrested on Thursday last week in a village north of Belgrade after 16 years on the run, looking worn and disheveled. In addition to the appeal, Mladic attorney Milos Saljic had asked for a team of doctors to examine Mladic, who is said to have suffered at least two strokes.
Prosecutors accused Mladic of using delaying tactics and said nothing should prevent his extradition to the tribunal, maintaining that doctors who have examined him say Mladic is in good enough health to face trial.
Earlier yesterday, the ex-general was briefly released from his jail cell, traveling in a secret high-security armored convoy to a suburban cemetery where he visited the grave of his wdaughter who killed herself in 1994 during the war, reportedly because she was depressed over his brutal role in the war.
At the black marble grave, he left a lit candle and a small white bouquet of flowers with a red rose in the middle, in what prosecutors called an emotional visit.
"We didn't announce his visit to the grave because it is his private thing and because it represented a security risk," deputy war crimes prosecutor Bruno Vekaric said. "The whole operation lasted for exactly 22 minutes and passed without a glitch. He was at the grave for a few minutes."
Mladic had repeatedly demanded that he be allowed to visit the grave, a memorial he had avoided for years as he tried to avoid capture.
"We had cameras there and 24-hour surveillance, so he could absolutely not show up there," Vukcevic said. "I've been told that he reacted emotionally."
The former Bosnian Serb commander will be extradited to The Hague, Netherlands "as soon as possible," Vladimir Vukcevic said. The Belgrade court made the decision just hours after it said it received the appeal in the mail arguing the 69-year-old is not mentally and physically fit to stand trial.
By late afternoon, the main highway leading to Belgrade airport was blocked by security forces and there was a heavy security presence in front of the courthouse, leading to speculation officials were preparing for Mladic's imminent departure.
A convoy of some five armored cars was seen leaving the jail, but it was not clear if Mladic was in one of them.
Mladic attorney Milos Saljic visited him in his jail cell in the early afternoon and said the ex-general was crying and very emotional during what he called a farewell visit by his wife and sister. They brought him a big suitcase with clothing he will need in The Hague, Saljic said.
Serbian Justice Minister Snezana Malovic was expected to announce yesterday that she had signed the extradition order.
Asked if this means that the transfer will happen yesterday, Vukcevic said "not necessarily."
"It will depend on the evaluation on how this should be done so as not to disturb the public," he said, adding no one will be informed when Mladic will be transported from prison to be flown to the Netherlands because of security risks.
Mladic is charged at the tribunal for atrocities committed by his Serb troops during Bosnia's 1992-95 war, including the notorious Srebrenica massacre that left 8,000 Muslim men and boys dead - the worst atrocity against civilians in Europe since World War II.
Mladic was arrested on Thursday last week in a village north of Belgrade after 16 years on the run, looking worn and disheveled. In addition to the appeal, Mladic attorney Milos Saljic had asked for a team of doctors to examine Mladic, who is said to have suffered at least two strokes.
Prosecutors accused Mladic of using delaying tactics and said nothing should prevent his extradition to the tribunal, maintaining that doctors who have examined him say Mladic is in good enough health to face trial.
Earlier yesterday, the ex-general was briefly released from his jail cell, traveling in a secret high-security armored convoy to a suburban cemetery where he visited the grave of his wdaughter who killed herself in 1994 during the war, reportedly because she was depressed over his brutal role in the war.
At the black marble grave, he left a lit candle and a small white bouquet of flowers with a red rose in the middle, in what prosecutors called an emotional visit.
"We didn't announce his visit to the grave because it is his private thing and because it represented a security risk," deputy war crimes prosecutor Bruno Vekaric said. "The whole operation lasted for exactly 22 minutes and passed without a glitch. He was at the grave for a few minutes."
Mladic had repeatedly demanded that he be allowed to visit the grave, a memorial he had avoided for years as he tried to avoid capture.
"We had cameras there and 24-hour surveillance, so he could absolutely not show up there," Vukcevic said. "I've been told that he reacted emotionally."
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