Serbia bids farewell to Djindjic

Serbia bids farewell to Djindjic

Citizens have been paying their last respects

Hundreds of thousands of Serbians have thronged the streets of Belgrade for the funeral of their murdered leader, Zoran Djindjic.

International dignitaries joined Djindjic's widow and two children and Serbian politicians for a requiem at the city's main cathedral, St Sava's.

Correspondents said it was the biggest funeral procession in Belgrade since that for Yugoslav communist leader Josip Broz Tito in 1980.

Later on Saturday, the Belgrade authorities said they had arrested Mladen Micic, one of the leaders of the gang believed to be behind the killing.

He was detained in a village 70km (40 miles) from the capital, with six other people. Police also seized weapons and ammunition.

Police have now arrested about 200 people connected with the Zemun criminal gang, and the country remains under a state of emergency.

'Serbia's Kennedy'

The prime minister's coffin, draped in the red, blue and white Serbian flag, was carried through the streets for burial with full state and military honours in Belgrade cemetery's Alley of the Great Men.

The people on the streets formed the largest crowds since Djindjic and other reformers led the mass uprising that toppled Slobodan Milosevic in October 2000.

Djindjic was killed by a sniper's bullets outside the main government buildings on Wednesday.

He was a key reformer, but remained controversial.

Full honours were given, including a graveside gun salute

The BBC's Nick Hawton in Belgrade said some were already calling Djindjic "Serbia's JFK" - likening him to US President John F Kennedy who was shot dead in Dallas in 1963.

Djindjic's wife Ruzica and their children Luka, 10, and Jovana, 13, wept as the wooden casket was lowered into the ground.

Earlier, thousands of mourners had filed past Djindjic's body as it lay in state in the cathedral, bedecked with while lilies and surrounded by posters of the slain leader.

Serbian Orthodox Bishop Amfilohije said the reformist leader had begun a renewal of Serbia and "reached out a hand of reconciliation and peace" to Europe and the world.

I solemnly make this pledge to you Zoran and to Serbia... you will be a part of our Europe

George Papandreou,
on behalf of the EU

"But he was killed by a brother's blind hatred," he told the congregation.

Among the international dignitaries at the funeral service were German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and the head of the European Commission Romano Prodi.

George Papandreou, the Greek Foreign Minister whose government currently heads the European Union, said at Mr Djindjic's grave: "I solemnly make this pledge to you Zoran and to Serbia... you will be a part of our Europe.

"We pledge to make your dream a reality. Adio my friend."

Building demolished

The government has accused a criminal gang linked to allies of Mr Milosevic of organising the killing.

On Friday, a building allegedly owned by one of the chief suspects was demolished in the Zemun district of the capital after officials said it had been erected illegally.

Serbian Interior Minister Dusan Mihajlovic has vowed to "arrest all responsible and liquidate anyone who resists arrest".

The government said three of those arrested had demanded the status of protected witness when testifying before Serbia's special anti-organised-crime prosecutor.