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Armed man 'in Serbian presidency' Serbian grenade man is disarmed
(30 minutes later)
Police in the Serbian capital Belgrade are negotiating with a man who has entered the president's office buildings holding two hand grenades. Police in Belgrade have disarmed a man who had been occupying the Serbian president's office buildings for several hours holding a live grenade.
He is said to be angry over a legal case and has threatened to detonate the grenade if his case is not addressed. The man, said to be angry over a legal case, had threatened to detonate the grenade if his case was not addressed.
Report say the man had sent thousands of e-mails warning of his intentions. Reports said the man had sent thousands of e-mails warning of his intentions.
Media reports said President Boris Tadic had arrived at the building shortly after the incident began but officials said he was not in danger. President Boris Tadic was reported to have arrived at the building shortly after the incident began but officials had said he was not in danger.
Jasmina Stojanov, a spokeswoman for Mr Tadic, said the man had approached the entrance to the building used by journalists and members of the public. The man, identified by media as 57-year-old Dragan Maric, had been in the presidential buildings since late morning, holding a hand grenade with the safety pin removed.
She said he was "sealed off in a safety area between two entrance doors, one of them armoured doors", and had not entered secure areas. But Jasmina Stojanov, a spokeswoman for Mr Tadic, said the grenade had now been taken from the man.
"The police took one of the bombs from the man, but he is still holding another in his hand," she said. "Therefore he has been disarmed," she said, but added that talks between Mr Maric and Interior Ministry negotiators were continuing.
Ms Stojanov would not confirm whether Mr Tadic was in the building but said his "security detail is taking care of him". Ms Stojanov earlier said the man had approached the entrance to the building used by journalists and members of the public.
She said he had been "sealed off in a safety area between two entrance doors, one of them armoured doors", and had not entered secure areas.
She said police had earlier taken another grenade from the man.
Ms Stojanov would not confirm at the time whether Mr Tadic was in the building but said his "security detail is taking care of him".
Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac is on the scene, along with armed police.Defence Minister Dragan Sutanovac is on the scene, along with armed police.
'Tyranny''Tyranny'
Officials have not confirmed the man's motives, but he has been informally identified as 57-year-old Dragan Maric, a former businessman already known to the police. Officials have not confirmed Mr Maric's motives, but he is reported to be a former businessman already known to the police.
Officials said Mr Tadic was not in any danger from the manOfficials said Mr Tadic was not in any danger from the man
The BBC's Serbian language service said Mr Maric is fighting a legal case against the state over multi-million dollar companies he says he owns.The BBC's Serbian language service said Mr Maric is fighting a legal case against the state over multi-million dollar companies he says he owns.
He once staged an 80-day hunger strike in front of parliament to draw attention to his cause.He once staged an 80-day hunger strike in front of parliament to draw attention to his cause.
Officials said he sent an e-mail earlier in the day to 11,000 addresses outlining his plans.Officials said he sent an e-mail earlier in the day to 11,000 addresses outlining his plans.
Belgrade's Fox TV read out what it said were extracts from the e-mail, which he also wanted to give to Mr Tadic.Belgrade's Fox TV read out what it said were extracts from the e-mail, which he also wanted to give to Mr Tadic.
"By 1600 (1400GMT) the Serbian government and myself should sign an out of court settlement," it said. "Otherwise, the bomb will explode exactly at the previously specified time."By 1600 (1400GMT) the Serbian government and myself should sign an out of court settlement," it said. "Otherwise, the bomb will explode exactly at the previously specified time.
"Dying here is better than suffering under the tyranny of this regime.""Dying here is better than suffering under the tyranny of this regime."
There were not reports of any blasts at the time given in the ultimatum. The nearby Kralja Milana Street was reported to have been closed to traffic.
Ultimatum
Earlier, a police source told the AFP news agency Mr Maric had left one grenade at the entrance to the building, on Andricev Venac Square, and gone inside "with the safety pin removed from the second".
The source said a police negotiating team had gone into the building "to try to convince the man to give himself up".
Serbian public RTS TV said the man had a grudge against the judiciary over a lengthy legal process.
The nearby Kralja Milana Street is reported to have been closed to traffic.
The news comes a day after US Vice-President Joe Biden became the most senior American to visit Serbia since the 1999 conflict in Kosovo.The news comes a day after US Vice-President Joe Biden became the most senior American to visit Serbia since the 1999 conflict in Kosovo.