BELGRADE, Yugoslavia?The Yugoslav Parliament passed a law Thursday that removes legal obstacles for the arrest and extradition of top associates of former President Slobodan Milosevic and other war crimes suspects to the U.N. tribunal.
Hours later, one of the suspects, former Serbian interior minister Vlajko Stojiljkovic, shot himself in the head in front of the downtown federal parliament building. Stojiljkovic, who headed the police during Milosevic’s reign, was undergoing medical treatment in a hospital, hospital officials said.
Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic said passage of the law should satisfy the tribunal’s demands for extradition of indicted suspects and allow renewal of U.S. financial aid, which is on hold until Sec. of State Colin Powell certifies that Yugoslavia is cooperating with the Netherlands-based court.
The law applies to about 20 suspects hiding in Yugoslavia.