Serbian deputy PM suspected of spying

Yugoslav military police have arrested Momcilo Perisic, the Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and former army commander, on suspicion of passing secret documents to an American diplomat, his aide said yesterday.

"Mr Perisic was detained last night [Thursday] by the military security service," Nebojsa Mandic, Mr Perisic's aide, said.

A ranking Yugoslav government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mr Perisic was arrested "on suspicion of espionage". Another person he described only as a US citizen was questioned and released, the official said.

Indirectly confirming that report, the American embassy said it would lodge a formal protest over the detention of a diplomat by Yugoslav security services on Thursday.

A State Department official in Washington, who asked not to be named, said: "The military burst in and our guy got roughed up." The United States would make a strong statement about the incident, he said. "We're really mad about it."

Mr Perisic, 58, has been sharply critical of his successor, General Nebojsa Pavkovic, who commanded Yugoslav troops during the war in Kosovo and against Nato in 1999. General Pavkovic was kept on by the current Yugoslav President, Vojislav Kostunica, when he defeated Slobodan Milosevic in elections 18 months ago.

Military sources said Mr Perisic was allegedly arrested while handing over secret army documents that "could link Milosevic with war crimes".

Mr Milosevic is currently being tried by the United Nations war crimes tribunal at The Hague for his role in atrocities committed during wars in the former Yugoslavia.(AP)