BELGRADE, Serbia, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Four Serbian government ministers have resigned over the country's failure to arrest war crime fugitive Ratko Mladic, but the Cabinet's role was unaffected.
Serbia's deputy prime minister, finance minister, health minister and energy minister submitted formal resignations to Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica during the weekend.
The government will not collapse as the four ministers are to keep their offices until their replacements are named after a forthcoming general election.
Finance Minister Mladjan Dinkic, leader of the G-17-Plus party, a major coalition partner in Kostunica's Cabinet, said he expected there will be early parliamentary elections by the end of the year, Belgrade's B92 radio reported Monday.
In mid-May, the G-17-Plus party warned its ministers and parliamentary deputies would resign unless Kostunica arrests and hands over Mladic by October. The Bosnian Serb military leader is wanted by the U.N. tribunal in The Hague on genocide and crimes against humanity charges.
Early in May, the European Union put off association talks with Serbia after Kostunica failed to keep his promise and hand over Mladic.
