CNN Mission: Peace

Karadzic won't run in nationwide elections

July 3, 1996
Web posted at: 9:00 p.m. EDT (0100 GMT)

karadzic

SARAJEVO (CNN) -- Serb television Wednesday broke into its evening news program to report that the Serb Democratic Party had chosen Biljana Plavsic to be its presidential candidate in Bosnia's September 14 elections. Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic decided not to run, according to the Serb news agency SRNA.

Under intense pressure from the international community and Serbian Republic President Slobodan Milosevic, Karadzic surrendered his executive powers to Plavsic last Sunday. Plavsic is considered as hard-line as Karadzic; their views are closely aligned.

Karadzic is Serb Democratic Party (SDS) chairman, and Plavsic is one of its two vice presidents. It was unclear whether Karadzic would remain as party chief.

plavsic

The SDS named Dragoljub Mirjanic, another member of the inner circle of party leadership, to run for vice president of the Bosnian Serb administration, which is to rule 49 percent of Bosnia, SRNA reported.

July 4 was the deadline for parties to announce their candidates for the presidency and vice presidency. Lower-echelon candidates have a later deadline.

Resign or else

Carl Bildt, the civilian peace coordinator for Bosnia, had threatened to call for renewed sanctions if Karadzic didn't comply with the Dayton peace accord and give up public office.

The U.N. International War Crimes Tribunal has charged Karadzic and his former military commander, Gen. Ratko Mladic, with complicity in major atrocities carried out by rebel Serb forces during the 43-month-long Bosnian conflict.

Karadzic has refused to surrender, and Plavsic has stated she will not use her power to hand him over to authorities.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Related story:



Feedback


Mission Peace nav bar
CONTENTS | SEARCH | CNN HOME PAGE | MAIN MISSION: PEACE PAGE

Copyright © 1996 Cable News Network, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive