Croat Nazi war criminal "relaxing at Euro 2008"

A suspected Croat Nazi war criminal has been found watching his country play football at the Euro 2008, the Daily Mail says. The British paper reported from Klagenfurt, Austria, that Milivoj Asner, 95, was spotted relaxing with fellow football fans. Croat Nazi war criminal "relaxing at Euro 2008" Previously, the Sun newspaper reported that Asner, at number four on Interpol's most wanted list, has been living under an assumed name in Klagenfurt since 2006, where the Croatian team are currently staying. He is known by locals but has been spared extradition for being too ill to face charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Croatia, the report says. Asner is suspected of sending thousands of Serbs, Jews and Romas to their deaths during the Second World War. The Simon Wiesenthal Center Director Dr Efraim Zuroff told the Sun: "He's enjoying a life many hundreds of victims were denied when they were sent off to be murdered. If this man is well enough to walk around town unaided and drink wine in bars, he's well enough to answer for his past." "It is our intention to bring this to the attention of the Austrian Minister of Justice Maria Berger and call for his immediate extradition." Asner now lives under his assumed name of Dr Georg Aschner. He was indicted in 2005 for crimes committed during his time as a Ustasha police chief in the Second World War. Among the charges is that he stood by as fascists burned and looted a synagogue in Pozega during 1941 and 1942. It was originally ruled that the 95-year-old could not be extradited to Croatia because he was an Austrian citizen. They later admitted he was not, but then claimed he was too ill to be sent for trial. Austria's government re-iterated their stance yesterday, saying the Ministry of Justice had proved he was not capable enough to go before a court and answer questions. Asner denies being a war criminal and says he was too low in rank to make life-or-death decisions. "It is not true. It's hilarious. I didn't have anything to do with it", he said. "I was just an officer with the justice department. I never did anything bad against anybody." Asner is among ten alleged Nazi war criminals sought by The Simon Wiesenthal Centre.

Croat Nazi war criminal "relaxing at Euro 2008"

Previously, the Sun newspaper reported that Asner, at number four on Interpol's most wanted list, has been living under an assumed name in Klagenfurt since 2006, where the Croatian team are currently staying.

He is known by locals but has been spared extradition for being too ill to face charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Croatia, the report says.

Asner is suspected of sending thousands of Serbs, Jews and Romas to their deaths during the Second World War.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center Director Dr Efraim Zuroff told the Sun: "He's enjoying a life many hundreds of victims were denied when they were sent off to be murdered. If this man is well enough to walk around town unaided and drink wine in bars, he's well enough to answer for his past."

"It is our intention to bring this to the attention of the Austrian Minister of Justice Maria Berger and call for his immediate extradition."

Asner now lives under his assumed name of Dr Georg Aschner. He was indicted in 2005 for crimes committed during his time as a Ustasha police chief in the Second World War.

Among the charges is that he stood by as fascists burned and looted a synagogue in Požega during 1941 and 1942.

It was originally ruled that the 95-year-old could not be extradited to Croatia because he was an Austrian citizen.

They later admitted he was not, but then claimed he was too ill to be sent for trial.

Austria's government re-iterated their stance yesterday, saying the Ministry of Justice had proved he was not capable enough to go before a court and answer questions.

Asner denies being a war criminal and says he was too low in rank to make life-or-death decisions.

"It is not true. It's hilarious. I didn't have anything to do with it", he said. "I was just an officer with the justice department. I never did anything bad against anybody."

Asner is among ten alleged Nazi war criminals sought by The Simon Wiesenthal Centre.