SERBIA:RADOVAN KARADZIC was sure he would never be found and remains convinced he was not given away by an informer, it was reported in Belgrade yesterday.
As Serbian authorities tried to track down those responsible for providing Karadzic with forged identity papers, Blic newspaper reported that the Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect was refusing food in his cell in Belgrade, from where he is fighting extradition to The Hague war crimes tribunal.
The tabloid published the first substantial remarks attributed to Karadzic since his arrest a week ago.
"Hiding was not difficult for me except for the fact that I was separated from my family," he is reported to have told his lawyer, Svetozar Vujacic. "I attended conferences and stood before cameras since I was convinced I would never be found." He excluded the possibility that someone tipped off the authorities about him "since nobody that I was in contact with knew that I was Radovan Karadzic".
Blic also reported that Karadzic was on his way by bus to a fortnight's holiday at a spa outside Belgrade when arrested. His claim to have been arrested on Friday, three days before the Serbian government says he was picked up, has been confirmed by witnesses on the bus on which he was travelling. Commentators have speculated that the government was waiting for parliament to begin a recess before announcing the news.
- (Guardian service)