Mladic a 'priority' for Serbia

Mladic has been on the run since 1995

Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic has said that the capture of war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic is a "priority", a day after a failed attempt to arrest him.

The operation on Wednesday was the first to be publicised by the Serbian authorities, and took most observers by surprise.

General Mladic led the Bosnian Serb army during the Bosnian war in the early 1990s. He has since been indicted for war crimes and has been on the run since 1995.

We have given ourselves a priority and this is Ratko Mladic Zoran Zivkovic

The attempt to catch him came just before a visit to the region by chief UN war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte.

Correspondents say Serbia may be trying to persuade the international community that it is at last making serious attempts to arrest General Mladic.

But Mr Zivkovic said everyone in the world knew that there was a "continuous search" for the general.

'Nothing new'

A well-placed source in Belgrade told the BBC the arrest attempt took place on the outskirts of the city, following an anonymous tip-off.

Serbian press reports said police raided General Mladic's former apartment and a cemetery, and blockaded various suburban sites.

The fugitive was also apparently spotted with a woman and two suitcases.

Mr Zivkovic said police operations had been carried out on a weekly basis.

"We have given ourselves a priority... and this is Ratko Mladic," he said.

He added that the Serbian authorities would react to any plausible tip-off which might lead to his capture.

The BBC's Matthew Price in Belgrade says the Serbian authorities may be trying to prepare the public for similar actions in future.

The operation comes just four days after four fresh indictments were issued against Serbian generals for crimes committed in the Kosovo war, a move which has angered Belgrade.

United States ambassador-at-large Pierre-Richard Prosper said on Monday that if Mr Mladic was handed over, Serbia would be given the opportunity to try the generals in its own courts.