Karadžić arrest sparking media frenzy

Journalists from all over the world have come to Belgrade seeking new information on Radovan Karadzic’s life in Serbia. When they received initial information that Karadzic had been arrested, most could not believe what they were hearing, but the real shock came when they saw his photos. Karadzic arrest sparking media frenzy BBC correspondent Nick Thorpe, who knew Karadzic quite well from the period before and during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina and who interviewed him on numerous occasions, admits that he had a hard time recognizing the Bosnian Serb leader on the photos that appeared following his arrest. "Perhaps, I might have been able to recognize him by his eyes. Also, he had a distinguishable, pointed chin, which could have given him away, and I believe that was why he grew such a big beard. However, had I seen him on the street, I would not have recognized him,” Thorpe said. Sky News’ Tim Marshall believes the timing of the arrest is especially interesting. “You have a new security services chief, a new government—that is, partially new—and on top of all that, you are negotiating with the EU on the association process. When you put these three things together, you see that is a step forward,” says Marshall. "But, again a question remains: how many people knew where Karadzic was, why was he arrested at this particular time, or is it perhaps, a coincidence, after all” Marshall wonders. Robert Antesberger, a correspondent for German channel N24 is waiting to see the reaction from the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS). "It will be interesting to see how the SPS reacts in government, because they are [Slobodan] Milosevic’s party and have always fought against extradition of alleged war criminals to the Hague Tribunal. It will be interesting to see the way they present to their voters, as well as to those of the Serb Radical Party, the fact that Karadzic will most likely end up in The Hague,” he said. Foreign media correspondents also told B92 that they did not believe that Karadzic’s arrest was connected to the arrest of another fugitive, Ratko Mladic, who is still at large.

Karadžić arrest sparking media frenzy

BBC correspondent Nick Thorpe, who knew Karadžić quite well from the period before and during the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina and who interviewed him on numerous occasions, admits that he had a hard time recognizing the Bosnian Serb leader on the photos that appeared following his arrest.

"Perhaps, I might have been able to recognize him by his eyes. Also, he had a distinguishable, pointed chin, which could have given him away, and I believe that was why he grew such a big beard. However, had I seen him on the street, I would not have recognized him,” Thorpe said.

Sky News’ Tim Marshall believes the timing of the arrest is especially interesting. “You have a new security services chief, a new government—that is, partially new—and on top of all that, you are negotiating with the EU on the association process. When you put these three things together, you see that is a step forward,” says Marshall.

"But, again a question remains: how many people knew where Karadžić was, why was he arrested at this particular time, or is it perhaps, a coincidence, after all” Marshall wonders.

Robert Antesberger, a correspondent for German channel N24 is waiting to see the reaction from the Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS).

"It will be interesting to see how the SPS reacts in government, because they are [Slobodan] Milošević’s party and have always fought against extradition of alleged war criminals to the Hague Tribunal. It will be interesting to see the way they present to their voters, as well as to those of the Serb Radical Party, the fact that Karadžić will most likely end up in The Hague,” he said.

Foreign media correspondents also told B92 that they did not believe that Karadžić’s arrest was connected to the arrest of another fugitive, Ratko Mladić, who is still at large.