NATO surrounds Bosnian village in search of Karadzic

NATO soldiers have laid siege to a village in eastern Bosnia where they believe the former Bosnian-Serb political leader, Radovan Karadzic, is in hiding.

Local police said soldiers have blocked all the routes into Celebici, while a NATO spokesman confirmed there is an 'ongoing operation' in the area, but offered no other details.

Bosnian-Serb TV reported explosions and gunfire near the village, which is 45 miles south-east of Sarajevo.

Reports also said two NATO helicopters landed in the area and NATO peacekeepers were searching homes and schools in the area.

Local villagers were reportedly told to stay indoors, while phone lines in the village were severed.

Radovan Karadzic, a former ally of Slobodan Milosevic, led the Bosnian-Serbs during the 1992-1995 war.

He has been indicted by the UN War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague in connection with alleged crimes against humanity perpetrated during the war.

An estimated 200,000 people, mostly civilians, were killed in Europe’s bloodiest conflict since the Second World War, and more than 20,000 people are still missing and presumed dead.

Karadzic is reported to have remained in the Serb controlled part of Bosnia since the end of the war and was protected by armed men said to be prepared to die for him.

However, there have been recent reports that the fugitive may have been preparing the ground for his surrender to the UN court.