Uncertain final resting place for Slobo

BELGRADE – His family is split, his homeland doesn’t want a fuss and his wife and son face the prospect of arrest – the funeral of Slobodan Milosevic, Serbia’s once all-powerful leader, is posing a headache.

The body of the 64-year-old was to be returned to his relatives yesterday after an autopsy concluded he died of a heart attack in his cell at The Hague where he was on trial for war crimes. But quite what will happen next – and where his body will be laid to rest – is far from clear.An international pariah in life, few want anything to do with him now, but if it is not to be Serbia, the only other choice for a funeral appears to be Russia, where his wife Mirjana is believed to be living in exile along with their son Marko.Interviewed by Serbia’s Vecernje Novosti newspaper, she said she wanted him buried in their home town but would probably be refused.”I have still not decided where my husband will be buried,” she said.Markovic has been charged by Serbian authorities with abuse of office, and there is an international warrant out for her arrest if she returns.There is also a warrant out for Marko Milosevic, citing alleged involvement in an attempted murder.Both could be arrested if they step foot in Serbia.Nor will she get a pardon, one option ruled out by Serbian President Boris Tadic after calls from within the country.Tadic also dismissed any prospect of a state funeral for Milosevic, as some of the late strongman’s supporters have demanded.Milosevic still has a hardcore of supporters, and authorities may fear any funeral could turn into an embarrassing display of honour.His former Socialist Party insisted he should be buried alongside his most illustrious compatriots in Belgrade’s central cemetery.A funeral in Belgrade would be a chance for “a great demonstration of support” for his policies – exactly what Serbia’s current leadership would want to avoid.But the family is not united either, it seems.Milosevic’s brother Borislav, a former ambassador to Moscow, said he should be buried in Belgrade but that no decision had been taken yet.- Nampa-AFPBut quite what will happen next – and where his body will be laid to rest – is far from clear.An international pariah in life, few want anything to do with him now, but if it is not to be Serbia, the only other choice for a funeral appears to be Russia, where his wife Mirjana is believed to be living in exile along with their son Marko.Interviewed by Serbia’s Vecernje Novosti newspaper, she said she wanted him buried in their home town but would probably be refused.”I have still not decided where my husband will be buried,” she said.Markovic has been charged by Serbian authorities with abuse of office, and there is an international warrant out for her arrest if she returns.There is also a warrant out for Marko Milosevic, citing alleged involvement in an attempted murder.Both could be arrested if they step foot in Serbia.Nor will she get a pardon, one option ruled out by Serbian President Boris Tadic after calls from within the country.Tadic also dismissed any prospect of a state funeral for Milosevic, as some of the late strongman’s supporters have demanded.Milosevic still has a hardcore of supporters, and authorities may fear any funeral could turn into an embarrassing display of honour.His former Socialist Party insisted he should be buried alongside his most illustrious compatriots in Belgrade’s central cemetery.A funeral in Belgrade would be a chance for “a great demonstration of support” for his policies – exactly what Serbia’s current leadership would want to avoid.But the family is not united either, it seems.Milosevic’s brother Borislav, a former ambassador to Moscow, said he should be buried in Belgrade but that no decision had been taken yet.- Nampa-AFP