Milosevic son's whereabouts unknown

Marko (left) and family are thought to have fled Yugoslavia

There is confusion over the whereabouts of Marko Milosevic, the son of the former president of Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic.

Marko, who is notorious in his home country for his shady business dealings and a luxury lifestyle, was denied entry to China after flying to Beijing on Monday.

The 26-year-old playboy was said to have taken a return flight to Moscow - the city he flew to from Serbia at the weekend.

However, reporters waiting for two Aeroflot flights from Beijing at Moscow's Sheremetyevo-2 airport saw no sign of him.

The office of the Yugoslav ambassador to Russia, Borislav Milosevic - brother to the ex-president and uncle to Marko - refused to comment.

'Visa problems'

Marko - who is was believed to be travelling under a diplomatic passport with his wife Milica and young son, also named Marko - stayed in Beijing for just a couple of hours.

Former President Milosevic admitted defeat a few days ago

According to reports he was turned back by customs officials after what were described as visa problems.

He was reported to have had similar problems earlier at Moscow airport when he tried to enter Russia on a Yugoslav diplomatic passport, but his uncle Borislav is said to have intervened at the airport.

'False' reports

Correspondents say that since the beginning of the Yugoslav crisis, it has been widely rumoured that the Milosevic family could seek refuge in either Moscow or Beijing, due to extensive ties in both capitals.

Kostunica wants to normalise relations with other countries

Earlier officials at China's foreign ministry denied as "totally false" reports that the ex-president had transferred his gold reserves to China.

Slobodan Milosevic has not been seen in public since he made a television address in Belgrade on Friday night.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Mr Kostunica on his victory, adding that he would push for a full lifting on sanctions.

Businesses owned by Marko were ransacked during the recent popular uprising, which saw opposition leader Vojislav Kostunica become the country's president.