Milosevic's funeral to be held in Serbia
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-03-15 09:35

BELGRADE -- The funeral for former Yugoslav and Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic will be held in Serbia, a senior official from his Socialist Party confirmed on Tuesday evening.

The party's vice president, Milorad Vucelic, said that he was authorized by Milosevic's family to make all preparations for the party leader's funeral in the country, the official Tanjug news agency reported.

Vucelic's confirmation ended rumors that Milosevic's funeral might be held in Russia, where Milosevic's widow Mira Markovic and son Marko are staying.

The body of Milosevic, who was found dead in his detention cell at the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague on Saturday, would be flown from Rotterdam to Belgrade Wednesday afternoon, said Vucelic.

Earlier on Tuesday, Milosevic's son Marko arrived in The Hague from Moscow and claimed his father's body from the Dutch authorities.

Also on Tuesday, the Belgrade District Court abolished the warrant for the arrest of Markovic, who fled to Moscow in 2003 to avoid charges of abuse of power, paving the way for her return to Belgrade to attend the funeral.

Markovic would not be arrested on arrival, but would have her passport confiscated, need to post bail and appear at a hearing, according to the court statement.
It is not immediately known when the funeral will take place.

According to the local B92 radio, Milosevic's funeral services were planned as early as Thursday or Friday in Belgrade.