Serbia declares state of emergency as prime minister assassinated

THE Serbian government declared a state of emergency last night amid fears of a breakdown in law and order following the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.

The 50-year-old who spearheaded the popular revolt that toppled Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in October, 2000, had many enemies because of his pro-reformist and Western stands.

He was pivotal in arresting and handing Milosevic to the war crimes tribunal in June, 2001.

Following an attempt on his life only last month, Mr Djindjic said: "If someone thinks the law and the reforms can be stopped by eliminating me, then that is a huge delusion."

Mr Djindjic was gunned down outside government buildings in Belgrade by a sniper at 1pm (midday Irish time) yesterday.

It was the first assassination of a sitting European head of government since Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was gunned down in Stockholm in 1986.

Mr Djindjic was shot in the abdomen and back. He died in hospital, said Nebojsa Covic, the deputy prime minister. The cabinet, meeting in emergency session, observed a minute's silence and announced an official mourning period of three days.

Acting Serbian President Natasa Micic, citing a danger for constitutional order, imposed a nationwide state of emergency, giving the military the same powers as police to detain suspects and investigate. Two suspects were arrested.

Police sources said Mr Djindjic was hit as he left his car by bullets fired from a building just across from government headquarters. A high-powered bullet left a dent on Mr Djindjic's armoured car.

"This criminal act is a clear attempt by those who in the past have tried to stop Serbia's progress and democratisation by assassinations to change the course of history and once again isolate Serbia and turn it into a criminals' haven," Mr Covic said.

Belgrade's emergency hospital was blocked by a large number of policemen, and Mr Djindjic's sobbing widow, Ruzica, was seen led away from the hospital building.

The government met in emergency session. All bus, rail and plane traffic from Belgrade was halted as police unsure if the suspects they arrested were the gunmen cast a wide net for the assassins.