Patriarch Pavle, who led Serbia’s Christian Orthodox Church through its post-Communist revival and called for peace and conciliation during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s but failed to openly condemn Serb nationalism, died today. He was 95.

The head of human rights watchdog the Council of Europe today hailed the arrest of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic as “wonderful news”.

The office of Serbian president said last night that former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic had been arrested in Serbia.

The office of Serbian president said tonight that former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic had been arrested in Serbia.

UN police today began returning to the Serb-held town in northern Kosovo where protesters with guns and hand grenades killed one of their colleagues and wounded dozens more.

Serb rioters set fire to an office inside the US embassy today as police clashed with protesters after an estimated 150,000 people demonstrated against Kosovo’s declaration of independence.

The move by Kosovo to become an “independent and democratic state” is backed by the US and key European allies but bitterly contested by Serbia and Russia.

NATIONALIST Tomislav Nikolic won the most votes in the first round of Serbia’s presidential election on Sunday but not enough to win outright, exit polls showed, setting up a run-off with pro-western President Boris Tadic.

Voters in Serbia go to the polls today to choose a president in a closely contested race between pro-Western and nationalist candidates.

Serbia is planning retaliatory measures against Western states if they recognise Kosovo’s independence, including the possibility of severing diplomatic ties with the US and EU countries.

SUPPORTERS of Slobodan Milosevic marked the first anniversary of his death with wreaths and speeches at the weekend, as Serbia continues to grapple with the consequences of his ruinous rule.

Serbia hailed its acquittal before the World Court on genocide charges filed by Bosnia, saying it would help regional reconciliation.

Serbia today hailed its acquittal before the World Court on genocide charges filed by Bosnia, saying it would help regional reconciliation.

The Serbian president today hailed the World Court’s acquittal of Serbia on genocide charges, but warned of “dramatic consequences” if the court’s demand for the arrest of indicted war criminals is not carried out.

SERBIA’S president yesterday called on pro-democratic parties to put differences aside and quickly form a coalition government to stave off gains made by ultra-nationalists in weekend parliamentary elections.

Serbs voted today in a closely-contested parliamentary election between pro-Western democrats and ultranationalists to determine whether the troubled Balkan nation drifts toward mainstream Europe or returns to its wartime nationalist past.

Top Serbian and ethnic Albanian leaders met face-to-face in Vienna today in unprecedented talks aimed at resolving the dispute over the breakaway province of Kosovo. But with the two sides intractable, chances of a breakthrough are slim.

Faced with possible European Union sanctions, Serbia’s deputy prime minister today urged an emergency leadership meeting to hasten the arrest of war crimes fugitive Gen Ratko Mladic.

THE coffin holding Slobodan Milosevic’s body went on display yesterday to die-hard supporters.

The body of Slobodan Milosevic has been flown home to Serbia for burial, met on the tarmac by only a handful of party loyalists. The low-key arrival, after days of wrangling over his final resting place, was an unceremonious homecoming for a man once feared – and respected – by millions.

Slobodan Milosevic’s body may be put on public display ahead of a funeral later this week, a top ally of the late Serb leader said today, and a family confidante said he could be buried in his hometown.

FAMILIES buried the skeletal remains of Srebrenica victims yesterday at the 10th anniversary of the massacre, while the West acknowledged its failure to prevent Europe’s worst atrocity in 50 years.

The US embassy in Belgrade apologised today for a road accident that was initially thought to be an assassination attempt on President Boris Tadic.

SERBS went to the polls yesterday to choose local leaders in key elections expected to be a tight race between pro-Western reformers and loyalists of former President Slobodan Milosevic.

Serbs were today choosing local leaders in key elections expected to be a tight race between pro-Western reformers and loyalists of former President Slobodan Milosevic.