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Serbia holds Croatia war crimes suspect Goran Hadzic Serbia holds Croatia war crimes suspect Goran Hadzic
(40 minutes later)
Serbian authorities say they have arrested Goran Hadzic, the last remaining fugitive sought by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.Serbian authorities say they have arrested Goran Hadzic, the last remaining fugitive sought by the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague.
Mr Hadzic, 52, is wanted for atrocities committed in the 1991-1995 war in Croatia. He led Croatian Serb separatist forces.Mr Hadzic, 52, is wanted for atrocities committed in the 1991-1995 war in Croatia. He led Croatian Serb separatist forces.
The arrest comes less than two months after Serbia caught former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic.The arrest comes less than two months after Serbia caught former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic.
Mr Hadzic is charged with the murder of hundreds of Croats and other non-Serbs.Mr Hadzic is charged with the murder of hundreds of Croats and other non-Serbs.
Serbian President Boris Tadic confirmed the arrest at a news conference.Serbian President Boris Tadic confirmed the arrest at a news conference.
He said Mr Hadzic was detained early on Wednesday in the mountainous Fruska Gora region, north of Belgrade, near his family home. He had always been presumed to be hiding there, the BBC's Mark Lowen reports from Belgrade.He said Mr Hadzic was detained early on Wednesday in the mountainous Fruska Gora region, north of Belgrade, near his family home. He had always been presumed to be hiding there, the BBC's Mark Lowen reports from Belgrade.
Mr Hadzic went into hiding seven years ago, shortly after the sealed indictment against him was delivered to the government in Belgrade.Mr Hadzic went into hiding seven years ago, shortly after the sealed indictment against him was delivered to the government in Belgrade.
He may be transferred to The Hague within days. Gen Mladic was arrested on 26 May and flown to The Hague on 31 May.He may be transferred to The Hague within days. Gen Mladic was arrested on 26 May and flown to The Hague on 31 May.
EU leaders congratulated Serbia for capturing Mr Hadzic, calling it a signal of Serbia's commitment to "a better European future". Mr Tadic has made joining the EU a key goal of Serbian foreign policy.EU leaders congratulated Serbia for capturing Mr Hadzic, calling it a signal of Serbia's commitment to "a better European future". Mr Tadic has made joining the EU a key goal of Serbian foreign policy.
Wartime atrocitiesWartime atrocities
Mr Hadzic was a central figure in the self-proclaimed Serb republic of Krajina in 1992-1993, leading the campaign to block Croatia's independence from Yugoslavia.Mr Hadzic was a central figure in the self-proclaimed Serb republic of Krajina in 1992-1993, leading the campaign to block Croatia's independence from Yugoslavia.
Mr Hadzic, indicted in 2004, faces 14 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including persecution, extermination, torture, deportation and wanton destruction for his involvement in atrocities committed by Serb troops in Croatia.Mr Hadzic, indicted in 2004, faces 14 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including persecution, extermination, torture, deportation and wanton destruction for his involvement in atrocities committed by Serb troops in Croatia.
Goran Hadzic was long eclipsed by the other big names on the most wanted list - Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, who face even more serious charges from the Bosnian war.Goran Hadzic was long eclipsed by the other big names on the most wanted list - Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, who face even more serious charges from the Bosnian war.
But with the arrest of Karadzic in 2008 and Mladic in May this year, Goran Hadzic suddenly became the number one target.But with the arrest of Karadzic in 2008 and Mladic in May this year, Goran Hadzic suddenly became the number one target.
State resources were redirected towards his capture; Serbia was determined that Hadzic would not be the one that got away.State resources were redirected towards his capture; Serbia was determined that Hadzic would not be the one that got away.
President Tadic said that pressure from the EU did not drive the move. But he will now expect to be rewarded by Brussels.President Tadic said that pressure from the EU did not drive the move. But he will now expect to be rewarded by Brussels.
Serbia will hope to receive EU candidate status and a start date for accession talks. And for this nation, desperate to move on from the 1990s, it is another big step towards its rehabilitation.Serbia will hope to receive EU candidate status and a start date for accession talks. And for this nation, desperate to move on from the 1990s, it is another big step towards its rehabilitation.
He is held responsible for the massacre of almost 300 men in Vukovar in 1991 by Croatian Serb troops and for the deportation of 20,000 people from the town after it was captured.He is held responsible for the massacre of almost 300 men in Vukovar in 1991 by Croatian Serb troops and for the deportation of 20,000 people from the town after it was captured.
President Tadic insisted that Serbian investigators had been "working very hard in the past three years" to capture Mr Hadzic.President Tadic insisted that Serbian investigators had been "working very hard in the past three years" to capture Mr Hadzic.
"You have to prepare your actions, at the end of the day you get concrete results," he said, comparing the search for Mr Hadzic to the decade-long US hunt for Osama Bin Laden, who was shot dead by US special forces this year."You have to prepare your actions, at the end of the day you get concrete results," he said, comparing the search for Mr Hadzic to the decade-long US hunt for Osama Bin Laden, who was shot dead by US special forces this year.
Our correspondent says the Hadzic case was seen as the last big obstacle to Serbia gaining EU candidate status and a start date for accession talks. There was a $1.4m (£870,000) bounty out for his capture.Our correspondent says the Hadzic case was seen as the last big obstacle to Serbia gaining EU candidate status and a start date for accession talks. There was a $1.4m (£870,000) bounty out for his capture.
European congratulationsEuropean congratulations
A statement from EU leaders said the arrest was "a further important step for Serbia in realising its European perspective and equally crucial for international justice.A statement from EU leaders said the arrest was "a further important step for Serbia in realising its European perspective and equally crucial for international justice.
"We salute the determination and commitment of Serbia's leadership in this effort."We salute the determination and commitment of Serbia's leadership in this effort.
"Following the capture of Ratko Mladic, this arrest sends a positive signal to the European Union and to Serbia's neighbours, but most of all on the rule of law in Serbia itself. The Serbian nation is in the process of confronting the past and turning the page to a better European future.""Following the capture of Ratko Mladic, this arrest sends a positive signal to the European Union and to Serbia's neighbours, but most of all on the rule of law in Serbia itself. The Serbian nation is in the process of confronting the past and turning the page to a better European future."
The statement was issued by EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and EU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton.The statement was issued by EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy and EU foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton.
Separately, Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen also praised Belgrade for the arrest, saying it would "allow for the most painful chapter in recent European history to be closed".Separately, Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen also praised Belgrade for the arrest, saying it would "allow for the most painful chapter in recent European history to be closed".
Mr Hadzic lived openly in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad untily 13 July 2004, when he fled because of the indictment against him, Reuters news agency reports. Mr Hadzic lived openly in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad until 13 July 2004, when he fled because of the indictment against him, Reuters news agency reports.
For years the prosecutors in The Hague complained that Belgrade was not doing enough to track down top war crimes suspects including Mr Hadzic, and that criticism delayed progress in Serbia's EU bid.For years the prosecutors in The Hague complained that Belgrade was not doing enough to track down top war crimes suspects including Mr Hadzic, and that criticism delayed progress in Serbia's EU bid.
Mr Hadzic was born in 1958 in Pacetin, near Vinkovici, in Croatia. He became a political activist in the 1990s when he joined the Serb Democratic Party (SDS), and later headed the separatist Serb government in Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem.Mr Hadzic was born in 1958 in Pacetin, near Vinkovici, in Croatia. He became a political activist in the 1990s when he joined the Serb Democratic Party (SDS), and later headed the separatist Serb government in Slavonia, Baranja and Western Srem.
Delic, a Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim), was commander at the Celebici prison camp where Serb prisoners were held in 1992. Convicted of wilful killings, torture, causing great suffering or serious injury and inhuman treatment.
Played a lead role in the 1995 attack on Srebrenica. Knew senior members of the Bosnian Serb Army had "genocidal" plans for the Bosniak population. Convicted of aiding and abetting genocide, murder and persecution.
Leader of a notorious Serb paramilitary group, the Tigers. Believed to be responsible for killing at least 76 non-Serbs in Bosnia's Sanski Most area in 1995. He was killed in Belgrade in 2000 before being brought to trial.
As President of Serbia and later President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Milosevic was indicted for war crimes against non-Serbs in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. He died four years into his trial.
Operational commander of Croatia's "Operation Storm" to regain control of the Krajina region. Thousands of Serbs fled the area, others were removed or murdered. Convicted of crimes including persecution, deportation and murder.
The Bosnian Serb leader is accused of war crimes such as genocide and persecution of Bosniaks and Croats, including the Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo. He was captured in 2008, living in disguise.
The Bosnian Serb Army commander is the latest suspect to be captured. He is accused of 11 counts of genocide, hostage-taking and other war crimes between 1992 and 1995, including the atrocities at Srebrenica and Sarajevo.
The Croatian Serb is the last indictee to be captured. Accused of the ethnic cleansing of Croats from the majority-Serb Croatian region of Krajina and the murder of civilians between 1991 and 1992.
The Hague tribunal has indicted 161 people for war crimes committed during the conflicts in the Balkans, the majority of them Serbs. Thirty five cases are still underway.
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Delic, a Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim), was commander at the Celebici prison camp where Serb prisoners were held in 1992. Convicted of wilful killings, torture, causing great suffering or serious injury and inhuman treatment.
Played a lead role in the 1995 attack on Srebrenica. Knew senior members of the Bosnian Serb Army had "genocidal" plans for the Bosniak population. Convicted of aiding and abetting genocide, murder and persecution.
Leader of a notorious Serb paramilitary group, the Tigers. Believed to be responsible for killing at least 76 non-Serbs in Bosnia's Sanski Most area in 1995. He was killed in Belgrade in 2000 before being brought to trial.
As President of Serbia and later President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Milosevic was indicted for war crimes against non-Serbs in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. He died four years into his trial.
Operational commander of Croatia's "Operation Storm" to regain control of the Krajina region. Thousands of Serbs fled the area, others were removed or murdered. Convicted of crimes including persecution, deportation and murder.
The Bosnian Serb leader is accused of war crimes such as genocide and persecution of Bosniaks and Croats, including the Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo. He was captured in 2008, living in disguise.
The Bosnian Serb Army commander is the latest suspect to be captured. He is accused of 11 counts of genocide, hostage-taking and other war crimes between 1992 and 1995, including the atrocities at Srebrenica and Sarajevo.
The Croatian Serb is the last indictee to be captured. Accused of the ethnic cleansing of Croats from the majority-Serb Croatian region of Krajina and the murder of civilians between 1991 and 1992.
The Hague tribunal has indicted 161 people for war crimes committed during the conflicts in the Balkans, the majority of them Serbs. Thirty five cases are still underway.
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Did you experience life in Croatia and the surrounding areas in the early 90s? What is your reaction to Hadzic's arrest? Send us your comments using the form below:Did you experience life in Croatia and the surrounding areas in the early 90s? What is your reaction to Hadzic's arrest? Send us your comments using the form below:
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