Former Yugoslav president Mr Slobodan Milosevic is expected to be arrested no later than March 10th to answer charges of corruption and murder, the Beta news agency reported yesterday, quoting an unnamed source.
The source, close to Serbia's reformist leadership, told Beta that the "deadline for Mr Milosevic's arrest is March 10th".
"Milosevic will not be detained just for breaking laws when he bought his house, but for more serious criminal acts, mostly linked with financial improprieties, but also for the disappearance and murder of people," the source said. Meanwhile, the Tanjug news agency reported that the Belgrade district prosecutor yesterday ordered police to investigate press reports that Mr Milosevic sold 173 kilos of gold in Switzerland last year.
Unconfirmed press reports said that, between September 21st and November 2nd, 2000, Mr Milosevic sent the gold to be sold in Switzerland, with money from the purchase being paid into the accounts of certain companies from Greece and Cyprus.
Mr Milosevic was ousted from office in October following a popular revolt over his refusal to concede electoral defeat to Mr Vojislav Kostunica.
Mr Kostunica has said that Mr Milosevic will stand trial in Yugoslavia but has refused to turn him over to the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague to answer charges.
Speculation that Mr Milosevic will soon be arrested increased following the arrest on Friday of his former secret police chief, Mr Rade Markovic. Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Mr Zarko Korac told the newspaper Blic that investigators looking into Mr Milosevic's financial dealings had already come up with "results".
"Investigations will continue and Milosevic will be indicted only when all the facts are collected," Mr Korac said.