Serbian police have banned a Gay Pride march in capital Belgrade – citing security concerns but also complying with a request from the Christian Orthodox church.

Slobodan Milosevic’s former spokesman became Serbia’s new prime minister today, promising to promote reconciliation in the Balkans after his nomination triggered fears of resurgent nationalism in the volatile region.

As Serbia’s parliament prepared to elect Ivica Dacic as prime minister, the former wartime spokesman for Slobodan Milosevic tried to dispel concern that his government could push this country back into the nationalism of the late strongman’s era.

A handshake between Kosovan prime minister Hashim Thaci and former Serbian president Boris Tadic has triggered outrage in both countries.

Security has been tightened throughout Serbia ahead of the protest planned by ultra-nationalists over the arrest of Ratko Mladic, police said today.

Ratko Mladic could be on his way to face a war-crimes tribunal in The Hague as early as Monday, possibly joining his former ally Radovan Karadzic on trial for some of the worst horrors of the Balkan wars.

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake rattled central Serbia overnight, killing at least two people and injuring 50.

Serbian riot police fought running battles with thousands of far-right supporters who hurled Molotov cocktails and stun grenades to try disrupt a gay pride march in central Belgrade.

Serbian border police have seized 20kg (44lb) of heroin at a border crossing with Bulgaria – the biggest drug seizure this year in the Balkan country.

A former aide to late Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic has died after being charged with siphoning millions in state money to foreign accounts.

Slobodan Milosevic’s family clashed today over where the former Yugoslav president should be buried, with proposals ranging from Serbia or Montenegro to Russia.

Defying international pressure, Serbia is refusing to arrest four top suspects wanted by the UN war crimes tribunal.

Serbians were voting for a new president today, with a nationalist, a pro-Western moderate and a business mogul leading a race that could determine whether the Balkan republic strengthens its Western ties or opts for renewed isolation.

SLOBODAN Milosevic’s Socialists yesterday offered to back a pro-democratic Serbian government but set a high price in return – an end to Serb extraditions to the UN war crimes tribunal.

Serbia faced becoming a pariah state again tonight after an extreme nationalist party made massive gains in a general election.