"London thwarted Karadžić arrest"

James Luko, a former UN official in Bosnia-Hercegovina, says the UK government prevented Radovan Karadzic’s arrest in 1997. Luko, who worked as an operations officer at the Hague Tribunal office in Belgrade, told daily Blic that the Republic of Srpska (RS) police under the control of Biljane Plavsic cooperated intensively with international forces in 1997 to arrest Karadzic. "London thwarted Karadzic arrest" However, Downing Street halted the arrest operation at the last moment, ordering its troops not to touch the former Bosnian Serb leader, he says. On learning of Karadzic’s movements, the former UN official informed the British commander, General Angus Ramsay, who was “excited”, stating that he wanted a “low intensity” arrest, of which he would inform London. According to Luko, Ramsay returned ten minutes later after his call to London, and said coldly: “We’re not police, we’re soldiers, so this isn’t our job. It’s up to the RS police to arrest Karadzic.” He claims that the general looked disappointed and frustrated, and that, judging by his behavior and comments, it was clear that he had received orders from Downing Street not to arrest Karadzic, writes Blic. Radovan Karadzic (FoNet, archive)

"London thwarted Karadžić arrest"

However, Downing Street halted the arrest operation at the last moment, ordering its troops not to touch the former Bosnian Serb leader, he says.

On learning of Karadžić’s movements, the former UN official informed the British commander, General Angus Ramsay, who was “excited”, stating that he wanted a “low intensity” arrest, of which he would inform London.

According to Luko, Ramsay returned ten minutes later after his call to London, and said coldly: “We’re not police, we’re soldiers, so this isn’t our job. It’s up to the RS police to arrest Karadžić.”

He claims that the general looked disappointed and frustrated, and that, judging by his behavior and comments, it was clear that he had received orders from Downing Street not to arrest Karadžić, writes Blic.