Yugoslav opposition defends Milosevic from arrest

The Socialist Party of the former Yugoslav president, Slobodan Milosevic, has called on its supporters to resist moves to arrest him.

The appeal follows last Friday's detention of the former head of the secret police, Rade Markovic, and a warning by the Interior Minister that more prominent arrests could follow.

Mr Milosevic is wanted by the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity but is being investigated in Yugoslavia on suspicion of corruption and abuse of power.

He is currently living under police surveillance in his villa in Belgrade, which the authorities say does not amount to house arrest.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service