"Authorities sponsored Šarić gang"

Opposition Serb Progressive Party SNS leader Tomislav Nikolic accused government officials of sponsoring the crime group of drug smuggling boss Darko Saric. Nikolic called on ruling Democratic Party (DS) leader Boris Tadic to say who in the ruling coalition had ties to Saric. "Authorities sponsored Saric gang" "I am directly accusing government officials of sponsoring the formation of this gang in Serbia, and they should say who participated in this," Nikolic said, adding that he "did not want to hear from Justice Ministry Secretary of State Slobodan Homen, because he does not have jurisdiction in the issue". "I am asking the DS president (Tadic) to tell us which party from the government, either a party president or officials, have ties to the drug mafia and the gang of (Darko) Saric, which was roaming Serbia and Europe without being punished, and was set up in the territory of Serbia," Nikolic said. He added that government officials are slowly and shyly pointing to some ministers' and ruling parties' ties to crime, "and the need to announce new parliamentary elections". "How else would one interpret Homen's statements that the crimes will be uncovered, even if that leads to new elections," the SNS leader said, adding that he was "unaware that fight against crime was a condition for calling new elections". Asked about new SNS member Vladimir Cvijan, who was a former advisor to the president, and whether he has given authorities evidence of corruption in the courts which reportedly was the reason he left the president's cabinet, Nikolic said that he thought that the "High Court Council already is asking for Cvijan's claims to be either confirmed or denied." He said that SNS will help in Cvijan's efforts to uncover the truth. Asked whether he saw Cvijan's evidence, Nikolic said that he did not, but that he believed him, because making a decision to leave the presidency, risking his career, "was no joke".

"Authorities sponsored Šarić gang"

"I am directly accusing government officials of sponsoring the formation of this gang in Serbia, and they should say who participated in this," Nikolić said, adding that he "did not want to hear from Justice Ministry Secretary of State Slobodan Homen, because he does not have jurisdiction in the issue".

"I am asking the DS president (Tadić) to tell us which party from the government, either a party president or officials, have ties to the drug mafia and the gang of (Darko) Šarić, which was roaming Serbia and Europe without being punished, and was set up in the territory of Serbia," Nikolić said.

He added that government officials are slowly and shyly pointing to some ministers' and ruling parties' ties to crime, "and the need to announce new parliamentary elections".

"How else would one interpret Homen's statements that the crimes will be uncovered, even if that leads to new elections," the SNS leader said, adding that he was "unaware that fight against crime was a condition for calling new elections".

Asked about new SNS member Vladimir Cvijan, who was a former advisor to the president, and whether he has given authorities evidence of corruption in the courts which reportedly was the reason he left the president's cabinet, Nikolić said that he thought that the "High Court Council already is asking for Cvijan's claims to be either confirmed or denied."

He said that SNS will help in Cvijan's efforts to uncover the truth.

Asked whether he saw Cvijan's evidence, Nikolić said that he did not, but that he believed him, because making a decision to leave the presidency, risking his career, "was no joke".