SERB PM: NEGOTIATIONS IN COURSE ON SURRENDER OF WEAPONS

BELGRADE, March 31 (Hina) - The Serb government has called on Saturday on all armed civilians surrounding the Belgrade residence of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to at once lay down weapons to avoid any casualties while Milosevic is escorted to an investigating judge. Speaking to reporters after an extraordinary government session, Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic confirmed ongoing negotiations with Milosevic's security at the residence about conditions for surrendering weapons, but did not say who was negotiating. "We expect everything to be settled by the end of the day," Djindjic said, adding the deadline for surrendering the weapons was "immediately". He declined to say what would happen if security failed to comply. Djindjic voiced his discontent with the conduct of "individuals from the Yugoslav Armed Forces General Staff and the Guard Brigade (for) systematically obstructing representatives of the authorities in the performance of their duties and extending open support to armed civilians in (Milosevic's) security." Asked if the Yugoslav military Chief-of-Staff, General Nebojsa Pavkovic, would be called to account, the Serb PM said Pavlovic was under the jurisdiction of Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica and the Defence Ministry. He added, however, the Serbian Interior Ministry would submit a report on the conduct of the military. Djindjic said he had talks with Kostunica and that the head of state had been "satisfied with the explanation" as to the strict law- abiding in attempts to carry out decisions by competent judicial bodies which are part of an investigation into Milosevic. (hina) ha