Aussie tennis player's father detained

BELGRADE, Serbia, May 7 (UPI) -- A Serbian judge said he ordered a 30-day detention for the father of Australian tennis star Jelena Dokic on suspicion he poses a danger to Australians.

Judge Branislav Rakicevic of the Ruma municipal court began an inquiry Thursday in the case of Damir Dokic, who was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill Australian Ambassador Clare Birgin in Serbia, Belgrade's B92 Web site said.

The investigating judge said Dokic denied all allegations against him.

Dokic was arrested on his farm at Vrdnik, 50 miles northwest of Belgrade, where police found seven hunting rifles and a pistol registered in his name, and two highly powerful explosive devices for which he had no license.

Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said Dokic threatened the Australian ambassador through his statements published in Serbian newspapers.

Dokic's statements followed his daughter Jelena's interview with an Australian magazine, in which she said her father had physically abused her before she fled the family in 2002.

Jelena Dokic, 26, began playing professional tennis in 1999 while in Australia, where her family relocated after leaving Serbia.