Karadzic reportedly may leave office
May 19, 1996
Web posted at: 4:30 p.m. EDT 2030 GMT)From Correspondent Christiane Amanpour
SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (CNN) -- Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic may soon step out of public office and not be seen or heard from again, sources close to Bosnia's civil peace coordinator Carl Bildt told CNN Sunday.
The sources said the speaker of the Serb parliament, Momcilo Krajisnik, has promised Bildt that Karadzic will resign. Serb President Slobodan Milosevic made similar assurances in meetings with Bildt Saturday, the sources said.
Bildt has insisted on written clarification, the sources said.
However, Bosnia-Serb news agency SRNA quoted sources close to Krajisnik, who said the speaker did not make such a promise.
The news comes on the heels of reports Saturday that Karadzic will hand off some of his political power to his vice president, Biljana Plavsic.
The announcement on TV Pale said Plavsic, also a hardline nationalist, would deal with all matters concerning the implementation of the Dayton peace accord, while Karadzic would busy himself with internal affairs such as refugees, the economy and reconstruction.
Karadzic made no mention of stepping down as the president of the Serbs' self-declared state of Republika Srpska.
International officials have tried to force Karadzic -- wanted for war crimes -- out of power over the past few months. The Dayton peace process forbids Karadzic from holding any political office, even though he has remained in control.
Bildt's spokesman, Colum Murphy, said Saturday he believes Karadzic's reign will soon be up.
"This is the beginning of the end of Karadzic as a political leader," he said.
Related stories:
- Karadzic hands over significant powers to deputy
- Yugoslavian leaders battle for legitimacy - May 16, 1996
- War crimes tribunal gets history lesson - May 8, 1996
- A united Bosnia? Not anytime soon - May 8, 1996
- Prosecutor details Bosnian's alleged atrocities - May 7, 1996
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