SERBIAN INTERIOR MINISTER SAYS ARMY PREVENTED MILOSEVIC'S ARREST

BELGRADE, March 31 (Hina) - Serbia's Interior Minister Dusan Mihajlovic has accused the Yugoslav military of preventing police from arresting former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. Speaking at an extraordinary news conference in Belgrade on Saturday, Mihajlovic said the army obstructed the action in Dedinje, where Milosevic's villa is located, on Friday night.#L# "During several attempts by authorised people and the investigating judge to enter Milosevic's residence, a special Serb police unit was engaged. When they entered they were shot at, and two police were wounded," said the minister. Military representatives at the Milosevic residence are "absolutely responsible for obstructing the action," he asserted, adding they would have to face judicial bodies or competent bodies in the armed forces. The interior minister said the army units at the villa were known to have a large quantity of light weapons and bombs. Mihajlovic explained the conflict began on Friday afternoon after the army units at the villa, wanting to keep their personnel as Milosevic's security, prevented an exchange of people from the Serbian Interior Ministry. The military action against the police was led by a senior officer who prevented the handing of an arrest warrant to Milosevic. Another problem are groups of "drunken bandits" who consider themselves Milosevic's guards, said Mihajlovic, adding their leader was Sinisa Vucinic, the president of the Radical Leftist Party. The Serbian interior minister was unable to be specific as to when police would gain access into Milosevic's residence, but said it should take place during the day, namely once it was estimated it could be done with no or as few victims as possible. (hina) ha