Milosevic daughter goes on trial

Marija Milosevic played a prominent role in Yugoslavia

By the BBC's central Europe reporter Nick Thorpe

The daughter of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Marija, has appeared in a Belgrade court on charges of shooting at government officials.

Marija Milosevic opened fire from the family villa

Ms Milosevic, 32, is accused of firing a pistol at the officials, who had come to try to persuade Mr Milosevic to surrender to police in the early hours of 1 April this year.

No one was hurt during the incident, but she is being charged with endangering public safety.

If found guilty, Ms Milosevic faces a sentence of up to eight years in prison.

Minor offence

On 1 April, police and journalists who had spent the night in the woods surrounding Slobodan Milosevic's villa in Belgrade were shocked to hear several shots ring out.

Only later, with Mr Milosevic alive and well and safely behind bars in Belgrade central prison, was the shooting explained.

The former president's daughter had opened fire with her own pistol after her father had finally agreed to surrender without a fight.

At other points during many hours of tense negotiations he had threatened to kill himself and his family.

Given that Mr Milosevic faces charges of genocide at the Hague war crimes tribunal, Marija Milosevic's charges are considered minor.

Prominent role

But her trial is of symbolic value, to show that no one is above the law in Serbia.

Like other family members, Ms Milosevic played a prominent role in Yugoslavia during her father's 13-year rule.

She owned a radio and television station, both named Kosava, which broadcast pop music, some of it recorded illegally from international broadcasters.

The transmitters of the TV station were destroyed by Nato during air raids in 1999.