The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, is to make a four-day visit to the Western Balkans, as part of the preparations for Ireland's EU Presidency in the first half of 2004.

POLICE in Belgrade have arrested a man suspected of being the sniper who shot dead Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.

POLICE hunting the killers of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic have detained more than 750 people in a sweep through the underworld, the reformist politician nominated new premier said yesterday.

Serbian authorities say they have arrested 750 people since the assassination of the country's prime minister last Wednesday.

Serbia’s likely new prime minister pledged today to keep the country on the course of pro-democracy reforms and close ties with the West as charted by his slain predecessor Zoran Djindjic.

Former Serbian interior minister Vlajko Stojiljkovic, wanted by the UN War crimes tribunal, killed himself outside the Yugoslav parliament today shortly after MPs passed a law allowing his extradition.

The UN chief war crimes prosecutor has accused the Yugoslav government of harbouring the Bosnian Serbs’ wartime commander who has been indicted for genocide.

The chief prosecutor at the UN War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague has accused the Yugoslav government of harbouring Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic, who is wanted by the UN.