Serbs pay last respects to Milosevic

Thousands of Serbian people paid last respects on Thursday to former Yugoslav and Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, whose body was flown back to Belgrade on Wednesday.

Photo: Serbs pay last respects to Milosevic

Supporters who carried Milosevic's photos and flowers, waited in long queue to enter the Revolution Museum, where Milosevic's coffin was laid in state.

Several hundred reporters and TV crews gathered in front of the museum to cover the event.

The coffin will be on display until Saturday, when the former leader would be buried in his hometown Pozarevac, some 80 km east of Belgrade.

Authorities in Pozarevac on Thursday granted permission for Milosevic to be buried in the grounds of his family home in the center of the town.

The Socialist Party of Serbia (SPS), which was founded by Milosevic, was organizing the funeral for Milosevic, who died on Saturday in the UN detention unit in The Hague while on trial for alleged war crimes.

The Serbian government has refused to hold a state funeral for Milosevic, despite his party and some others have made the request.

SPS vice president Milorad Vucelic said on Thursday that he expects the whole family of Milosevic to attend his funeral, except for his elder brother Borislav who is recovering from surgery in Moscow.

SPS officials have announced a farewell ceremony to be held in front of the parliament at noon on Saturday, reports Xinhua.

I.L.