Former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic is to be arrested no later than March 10 to answer charges of corruption and murder, the Beta news agency reported Wednesday quoting an unnamed source.
The source close to Serbia's reformist leadership told Beta that the "deadline for Milosevic's arrest is March 10" without giving details.
"Milosevic will not be detained just for breaking laws when he bought his house, but for more serious criminal acts, mostly linked with financial improprieties, but also for the disappearance and murders of people," the source told Beta.
Milosevic was ousted from office in October following a popular revolt over his refusal to concede electoral defeat to Vojislav Kostunica.
Kostunica has said that Milosevic will stand trial in his homeland but has refused to turn him over to the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague to answer charges of crimes against humanity.
Speculation that Milosevic will soon be arrested heated up over the weekend following the arrest on Friday of former secret police chief Rade Markovic.
Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Zarko Korac told the newspaper Blic that investigators looking into Milosevic's financial dealings had already come up with "results."
"Investigations will continue and Milosevic will be indicted only when all the facts are collected by the investigation procedure," Korac said.
Initial investigations into Milosevic's dealings showed that he had forged reports of his personal property in order to buy a luxurious house from the state on a privileged price list, officials said.
Justice officials "have at their disposal some important material evidence," the source told Beta.
"There are certain reliable witnesses from the top levels of the former regime who are ready to talk," the source said.
On Tuesday, Yugoslav Interior Minister Zoran Zivkovic promised a series of "surprise" arrests of officials of the former regime – BELGRADE (AFP)
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