Date: Sun, 16 Jan 2000 19:55:46 +0100
From: FreeB92 News
Subject: FreeB92 News for 01/16/2000
Arkan murdered in Belgrade's Intercontinental hotel
BELGRADE, Sunday -- Zelko Raznjatovic, better known as Arkan, commander of
the paramilitary Serbian Volunteer Guard active during the wars in Bosnia and
Croatia, was shot in the lobby of Belgrade's Hotel Intercontinental sometime
around five o' clock yesterday afternoon. Arkan, who was shot in the head,
was rushed to hospital where doctors confirmed him dead. One of his body
guards, identified as Momcilo Mandic, was also killed at the scene, while
Dragan Garic whose involvement in the incident is not clear, was also rushed
to hospital where he later died. The group had been sitting in a
sectioned-off part of the lobby and were on their way to the hotel exit when
they were hit by at least one round from a Heckler and Koch submachine gun
that apparently hit Arkan in the eye. The Serbian police have released no
details regarding the incident.
All local media in Belgrade have today reported Arkan's death with
contradictory versions of the events leading to his death. There has been
considerable speculation as to how many assailants there were, whether they
were hiding inside the hotel, whether they were masked as well as to the
motives for such a murder.
The Hague Tribunal indicted 47-year-old Arkan in 1997 for war crimes carried
out by his paramilitaries in Bosnia and Croatia, but the indictment was kept
under wraps until 31st of March last year when the tribunal made his
indictment public. Arkan and his paramilitary forces have also been accused
by the western media of involvement in apparent atrocities in Kosovo during
the NATO bombardment of Yugoslavia, but Arkan denied any involvement in war
crimes. In 1992 Arkan was an MP in the Serbian Parliament as independent
candidate. The following year he founded the Party of Serbian Unity which did
not manage to win a single seat in the 1993 elections. For the past several
years his name has been connected with the football club Obilic which
progressed from being a second division club to Yugoslav champion straight
after Arkan purchased it.
All opposition parties in Serbia stated that this murder symbolised the
current state of affairs in the country. The Serbian Renewal Movement linked
this murder to living with state terrorism. President of the Democratic Party
Zoran Djindjic said that Belgrade had become a dangerous city in which to
live, while Goran Svilanovic of the Civic Alliance party said that Arkan was
someone who knew too much and was too deeply involved.
There has so far been no public reaction to Arkan's murder from the regime.
Albright and Cook: no satisfaction from Arkan's murder
US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright and British Foreign Minister Robin
Cook reacted to Arkan's death by stating that they took no satisfaction from
his murder. Albright said that the US would have preferred him to stand trial
in The Hague War Crimes Tribunal. Cook agreed with such sentiments saying he
would have preferred to see Arkan taking responsibility for his crimes.
The Sunday Times: Arkan cooperating with the Hague Tribunal
LONDON, Sunday - A source close to Arkan has revealed that he was supplying
the Hague Tribunal with material which could be crucial to the eventual trial
of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, London's Sunday Times writes today.
The same source said that Arkan had believed that if he cooperated with the
tribunal, the case against him would be dropped.
Details of Arkan's indictment soon to be made public
THE HAGUE, Sunday - The details of the indictment against Arkan regarding his
involvement in war crimes in Croatia and Bosnia could soon be made public,
Hague Tribunal spokesman Paul Risley told Reuters today.
American KFOR soldier charged with murder and indecent assault of Albanian minor
KOSOVO, Sunday - An American KFOR soldier, first sergeant Frank J. Rodey was
arrested today and charged with the murder and indecent assault of a minor
after the body of an eleven year old Albanian girl was found in Vitina two
days ago, KFOR headquarters in Pristina confirmed today. Rodey is being held
in custody in the American base in Urosevac awaiting transfer to an American
prison in Meinham. Associated Press quotes UNMIK sources as stating that the
girl was raped before being murdered.
KFOR Commander Klaus Reinhardt said he was shocked and dismayed by the
incident and expressed his regret that the actions of one individual could
bring the reputation of all KFOR forces into question.
Trajkovic proposes exchange of Tomanovic for Brovina
KOSOVO, Sunday -- Member of the Serbian National Council for Kosovo Rada
Trajkovic today proposed the exchange of abducted Serbian doctor Andrija
Tomanovic for Albanian aid worker Flora Brovina who has been sentenced to
twelve years imprisonment by the regime in Serbia. Trajkovic said that she
hoped her proposal would be supported by the international community who she
hoped would attempt to persuade the Albanians to accept this exchange.
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