Serbs offer reward for fugitives

By Nick Hawton
BBC News, Belgrade

Radovan Karadzic (left) and Gen Mladic are still on the run

Serbia has offered a reward of 1m euros (£700,000; $1.4m) for information that leads to the arrest of either Ratko Mladic or Radovan Karadzic.

The former Bosnian Serb leaders have been indicted for genocide by the UN War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague for their roles during the Bosnian war.

This is the first time Serbia has offered a reward for the men's capture.

The EU wants Serbia to co-operate fully with The Hague tribunal before advancing its bid to join the bloc.

Serbia hopes to move closer to the EU with the signing of a stabilisation and association agreement by the year end.

Co-operation talks

The announcement of the reward was made by Serbia's Council for National Security which is co-ordinating the search for the remaining war criminals wanted by The Hague.

The council is chaired by the president of Serbia and includes members of the military intelligence services.

One million euros will be paid for information leading to the arrest of Gen Ratko Mladic, who is a Serbian citizen.

Smaller rewards are offered for two other fugitives who are also Serbian citizens.

The council also said a 1m euro reward would be paid for information leading to the arrest of the former Bosnian Serbian president, Radovan Karadzic.

However, he is technically not from Serbia and the authorities believe he is living abroad.

The announcement comes shortly before the chief prosecutor at The Hague, Carla Del Ponte, is due to meet EU foreign ministers to discuss Belgrade's co-operation with the court.