Presidency building drama ends

A man who entered the Serbian Presidency building in Belgrade armed with two hand grenades has been disarmed, B92 has learned. Police officers have also arrested the man, identified as Dragan Maric, and taken him out of the building. Presidency building drama ends President Boris Tadic was not inside at the time Maric went in, but Beta news agency says that he was seen entering by the main door at around 14:30 CET. Tadic has in the meantime praised "police and army" for their handling of the situation. In an email sent to "11,000 addresses", including numerous Serbian and European institutions and media this morning, Maric reportedly asked to sign a "fair settlement with the government, or else activate the bombs by 16:00 CET". Beta reports that Maric is a Valjevo native who in 2004 embarked on an 80-day hunger strike over a court case involving his private company and national carrier Jat Airways. Also in 2004, he filed a lawsuit against the state of Serbia with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, unhappy with the Commerce Court's verdict in the case. New Serbia (NS) MP Aleksandra Jankovic said earlier today that an unknown man gave her an envelope Thursday morning which contained a letter saying that Maric's move was "forced by the regime, which is threatening to liquidate his family and take away his child". Serbian police (MUP) formed a negotiating team in the hope of resolving the situation peacefully. Maric was inside the building, at the back door entrance, for over fiive hours. A spokeswoman for the Presidency said earlier that the man was "in the 1.5 sq meter space that is not secured, where citizens come to file their complaints". Our reporters said that many uniformed and plainclothes police were inside the Presidency, as well as MUP's riot police officers, ambulances and firefighters outside the building. Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac and several VS officers also arrived at the scene. Numerous journalists and cameramen crowded the space in front of the building. A portion of the Kralja Milana Street was blocked, but traffic resumed at 13:30 CET. Maric is taken into custody in a MUP van (Tanjug)

Presidency building drama ends

President Boris Tadić was not inside at the time Marić went in, but Beta news agency says that he was seen entering by the main door at around 14:30 CET. Tadić has in the meantime praised "police and army" for their handling of the situation.

In an email sent to "11,000 addresses", including numerous Serbian and European institutions and media this morning, Marić reportedly asked to sign a "fair settlement with the government, or else activate the bombs by 16:00 CET".

Beta reports that Marić is a Valjevo native who in 2004 embarked on an 80-day hunger strike over a court case involving his private company and national carrier Jat Airways.

Also in 2004, he filed a lawsuit against the state of Serbia with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, unhappy with the Commerce Court's verdict in the case.

New Serbia (NS) MP Aleksandra Janković said earlier today that an unknown man gave her an envelope Thursday morning which contained a letter saying that Marić's move was "forced by the regime, which is threatening to liquidate his family and take away his child".

Serbian police (MUP) formed a negotiating team in the hope of resolving the situation peacefully. Marić was inside the building, at the back door entrance, for over fiive hours.

A spokeswoman for the Presidency said earlier that the man was "in the 1.5 sq meter space that is not secured, where citizens come to file their complaints".

Our reporters said that many uniformed and plainclothes police were inside the Presidency, as well as MUP's riot police officers, ambulances and firefighters outside the building.

Defense Minister Dragan Šutanovac and several VS officers also arrived at the scene. Numerous journalists and cameramen crowded the space in front of the building.

A portion of the Kralja Milana Street was blocked, but traffic resumed at 13:30 CET.