The European Union has welcomed the arrest of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic today and expressed hope that this meant his political career had ended.
Sweden, which holds the rotating EU presidency, said in a statement on behalf of the EU that the arrest was an important step towards bringing peace and justice to the (Balkans) region.
The EU statement said it hoped that this marks the end of Slobodan Milosevic's political career, which has caused the region so much devastation and its people so much suffering.
Milosevic remained chairman of the Serbian Socialist Party since being ousted by a popular uprising last October and made appearances at several party gatherings.
The EU also welcomed steps taken in the past few weeks by Yugoslav and Serbian republic authorities to cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
European Commission President Mr Romano Prodi said yesterday that he wanted Milosevic to be tried in The Hague, but said Belgrade must take that decision.