Thousands rally in Serbia to protest Mladic arrest
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Thousands of demonstrators sang nationalist songs and carried banners honoring jailed former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic on Sunday as they poured into the street outside Serbia's parliament to demand the release of the war-crimes suspect, whom they consider a hero.
More than 3,000 riot police took positions around government buildings and Western embassies, fearing that the demonstration could turn violent, as similar rallies have in the past. Riot police blocked small groups of extremists from reaching the rally. Some in the crowd, which numbered at least 7,000, chanted right-wing slogans. A few gave Nazi salutes. Demonstrators said Serbia should not hand Mladic over to the UN war crimes court in The Hague, Netherlands. (AP)
