Opposition leader suspects foul play

Opposition New Serbia (NS) leader Velimir Ilic says he suspects he was ambushed and attacked in his daughter's apartment in Belgrade. Ilic told daily Vecernje Novosti that doctors, and the severity of the injury he sustained, gave him arguments for this claim. Opposition leader suspects foul play In mid-February, Ilic was admitted to Belgrade's Emergency Center with head injuries. Although it was announced that he felt ill and fell in his bathroom, the NS leader said he could not remember how he sustained his injuries. Ilic also said that the blow was "fierce", and that he was surprised that the police did not investigate the scene at the time. "It was a serious injury. I received a heavy blow to the back of my head, and fell on my forehead. There were hematomas both on the back and the front of my head. Even the veins got torn. A serious surgery. My blood pressure now varies, I feel weak very often. The recovery takes from three to six months. The d-day will be May 19, when I'm due to take the follow-up scan," he said. Ilic said that fellow opposition leaders Vojislav Kostunica and Tomislav Nikolic visited him while he recovered, as well as government ministers Rasim Ljajic and Milutin Mrkonjic, and former BIA chief Rade Bulatovic. Former Interior Minister Dragan Jocic, himself seriously injured after a traffic accident, also called to offer his support, Ilic revealed. The NS leader said that he presently feels well and that he would be "back in old shape in a month", declaring that he would not withdraw from politics, and that he would remain loyal to his coalition partners, the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS). "My daughters, son, wife, have really had a scare. They advised me to leave politics, but if I were to do that, I would betray and mislead hundreds of thousands of people who trust me and with whom I have entered this battle. I cannot do that because most people want me to go on. I must stay and fight," said Ilic. "There were talks with the [ruling] Democrats, [President Boris] Tadic's people called on me to separate from Kostunica. But I cannot enter a coalition with folks who are full of themselves and vanity, who believe they are godsend, but when work needs to be done, they are nowhere to be found." Ilic also told the newspaper that the most difficult moment in his career came shortly before the injury, when he was accused of ethnically-motivated hate speech. "A true Serb spoke up in me, but a Serb that has friends of all ethnicities. I said honestly what was bothering me, but it never crossed my mind to insult Rasim Ljajic. Even from the podium I said that Rasim is my mate," he said. "I did not react in that way because Rasim is not a Serb, but because neither the president of the country, nor the prime minister would send invitations, let alone travel to Orasac to bow to the great Karadjordje," added Ilic. Ahead of this year's Statehood Day, Ilic told MPs during a parliament session that it was a "shame" that Ljajic – who is labor minister in the Cvetkovic government – was the one sending out invitations for the ceremonies. Some in the media and public interpreted this as hate speech.

Opposition leader suspects foul play

In mid-February, Ilić was admitted to Belgrade's Emergency Center with head injuries.

Although it was announced that he felt ill and fell in his bathroom, the NS leader said he could not remember how he sustained his injuries.

Ilić also said that the blow was "fierce", and that he was surprised that the police did not investigate the scene at the time.

"It was a serious injury. I received a heavy blow to the back of my head, and fell on my forehead. There were hematomas both on the back and the front of my head. Even the veins got torn. A serious surgery. My blood pressure now varies, I feel weak very often. The recovery takes from three to six months. The d-day will be May 19, when I'm due to take the follow-up scan," he said.

Ilić said that fellow opposition leaders Vojislav Koštunica and Tomislav Nikolić visited him while he recovered, as well as government ministers Rasim Ljajić and Milutin Mrkonjić, and former BIA chief Rade Bulatović.

Former Interior Minister Dragan Jočić, himself seriously injured after a traffic accident, also called to offer his support, Ilić revealed.

The NS leader said that he presently feels well and that he would be "back in old shape in a month", declaring that he would not withdraw from politics, and that he would remain loyal to his coalition partners, the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS).

"My daughters, son, wife, have really had a scare. They advised me to leave politics, but if I were to do that, I would betray and mislead hundreds of thousands of people who trust me and with whom I have entered this battle. I cannot do that because most people want me to go on. I must stay and fight," said Ilić.

"There were talks with the [ruling] Democrats, [President Boris] Tadić's people called on me to separate from Koštunica. But I cannot enter a coalition with folks who are full of themselves and vanity, who believe they are godsend, but when work needs to be done, they are nowhere to be found."

Ilić also told the newspaper that the most difficult moment in his career came shortly before the injury, when he was accused of ethnically-motivated hate speech.

"A true Serb spoke up in me, but a Serb that has friends of all ethnicities. I said honestly what was bothering me, but it never crossed my mind to insult Rasim Ljajić. Even from the podium I said that Rasim is my mate," he said.

"I did not react in that way because Rasim is not a Serb, but because neither the president of the country, nor the prime minister would send invitations, let alone travel to Orašac to bow to the great Karađorđe," added Ilić.

Ahead of this year's Statehood Day, Ilić told MPs during a parliament session that it was a "shame" that Ljajić – who is labor minister in the Cvetković government – was the one sending out invitations for the ceremonies.

Some in the media and public interpreted this as hate speech.