Milosevic placed under 'supervision'

Milosevic is not under house arrest, says minister

Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic has been placed under 24-hour "supervision", but government officials deny that the move amounts to house arrest.

Police and security services will carry out the round-the-clock surveillance.

Every moment, we know where he is and what he is doing

Interior Minister
Dusan Mihajlovic

Serbian Interior Minister Dusan Mihaljovic, who confirmed the measures were now in place, said Mr Milosevic retained his own inner circle of police and army guards.

"I think this [Milosevic's protection] is the obligation of my ministry, and, every moment, we know where he is and what he is doing," Mr Mihajlovic said.

He also suggested the surveillance teams would help protect Mr Milosevic from bounty-hunters seeking to claim a $5m reward set by the United States.

Milosevic has kept a low profile since his fall from power

"I personally think that we have to guard Milosevic from people who would like to cash in the reward on him," said Mr Mihajlovic, who is part of a reformist Serbian Government sworn in only last week.

Mr Milosevic, believed to live a flat in the centre of Belgrade, is wanted by the war crimes tribunal in the Hague.

The new Yugoslav administration says it will not hand him over, but might put him on trial in Belgrade.

There has been speculation that Mr Milosevic might flee the country rather than wait to face his fate.

"He's under the sort of arrest that he has imposed on himself - that would be the proper description as far as I know

Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica

His son, Marko, is believed to have left Yugoslavia for Moscow soon after the October "people power" revolution.

New Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, who succeeded Mr Milosevic said on Wednesday that the former ruler was living in self-imposed isolation.

Kosovo general defended

"He's under the sort of arrest that he has imposed on himself - that would be the proper description as far as I know," Mr Kostunica said during a visit to Sweden.

Mr Mihajlovic also defended the appointment of an army general, Sreten Lukic, to a senior position within the Interior Ministry, even though he is a close Milosevic ally whose name has been linked with alleged atrocities in Kosovo.

Mr Mihajlovic said that unless and until an inquiry turned up any evidence of wrongdoing against General Lukic, he would remain in his post and was "a very professional officer".