Karadzic Arrested

One of the most wanted men in the world, Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, has been arrested after more than a decade as a fugitive.

Karadzic, a medical doctor and published poet is charged with organizing the worst massacres in Europe since World War II.

Karadzic now 63 years old, was the Serb political leader during the 1992-1995 war that followed Bosnia-Herzegovina's secession from Yugoslavia. He is charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the law of war.

He was arrested in Belgrade within a few weeks of a new government in Serbia. Some suggest that the arrest came about because political protection that had shielded him was no longer available. The arrest of Karadzic and other indicted war criminals, is one of the main conditions of Serbian progress towards European Union membership; it may be the desire to join the EU was Karadzic's undoing. The arrest came on the eve of a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers scheduled to discuss closer relations with Serbia following the formation of the new pro-western Serbian government.

His arrest leaves former Gen. Ratko Mladic, the Bosnian Serb military commander, as the top-ranking war crimes suspect still at large.

It seems likely Karadzic will be sent to the Hague within a few weeks to stand trial.