BELGRADE, Serbia, May 29 (UPI) -- Police in Belgrade Sunday arrested 100 supporters of imprisoned Serbian war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic amid clashes that left 18 people injured.
The rally, organized by the opposition Serb Radical Party, drew thousands in support of Mladic, who called for demonstrations to remain peaceful, Radio B92 said.
But 18 people were injured after darkness fell as unrest erupted between dozens of ultranationalists and riot police, the Los Angeles Times reported.
"Ratko Mladic is a hero for us. He fought for the Serbian people," 35-year-old soldier Zoran Petrovic told the Times.
The 69-year-old former general who led Bosnian Serb forces in the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995 was captured without resistance early Thursday after spending 16 years in hiding.
He faces numerous war crimes and genocide charges by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, although he said last week he doesn't recognize its authority, The New York Times said Sunday.
The Serb Radical Party and other rightist groups announced Saturday they would rally Sunday night to protest his extradition, B92 said.
In a statement released through his lawyer and son Darko, Mladic said Saturday he didn't want to be the cause of any violence or riots.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said he would not ban the demonstration, but extra police would be on hand.
At his first appearance before a three-judge panel Thursday, Mladic gave an early indication of what his defense would be if he were sent to trial at The Hague, referring to former Serbian ultra-nationalist President Slobodan Milosevic.
"You elected Milosevic, not me," Mladic said. "It serves you right for what happened afterwards."
He is scheduled to appear in court Monday and is expected to appeal his extradition, the Times said. If denied, he could be flown to the Netherlands as early as Tuesday.
