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Britain denies Bosnian ex-leader’s detention is ’political’

06 March 2010 00:40 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Britain denied Friday that the arrest of Ejup Ganic was politically motivated as the former Bosnian leader faced another six days in a London jail pending his possible extradition on war crimes charges, APA reports quoting AFP.
Foreign Office minister Chris Bryant said the judicial authorities were simply carrying out their duties, as thousands of non-Serb war veterans protested in Sarajevo over his detention.
Ganic, 64, is being held in Wandsworth Prison in south London on a provisional arrest warrant so Serbian authorities can seek his extradition to stand trial in Serbia.
On Friday his bail application at London’s High Court was adjourned, meaning he faces at least another six days in jail.
Judges John Laws and Richard McCombe adjourned the bail application to give the Serbian authorities more time to come up with evidence to support their accusations that Ganic is a war criminal.
"I cannot stress enough that the arrest of Doctor Ganic in no way amounts to a diplomatic or political statement by the British government, or any point of view by the British government on past events in the western Balkans," Bryant said.
"The judicial authorities, which are wholly independent of government, are carrying out their independent legal functions in accordance with the law."
He said Britain "values" its relationship with Bosnia-Hercegovina, and supported Sarajevo’s aspirations for European Union membership.
"The UK takes its obligations towards foreign nationals in detention extremely seriously. We have been looking into the concerns urgently and in detail," Bryant added.
"We are continuing to look into the case and are working closely with the Bosnian authorities."