Former Yugoslav President Zoran Lilic was detained
and flown to The Hague, in the Netherlands to testify before the war crimes tribunal against Slobodan Milosevic.
Mr Lilic served as figurehead president of the collapsing Yugoslav federation from 1993 until 1997. In that year, Milosevic, his political patron, took over as president.
Mr Lilic was subpoenaed by the tribunal to testify as a prosecution witness in the trial against Milosevic, who was indicted for genocide and crimes against humanity in three Balkan wars, said Mr Lilic's lawyer, Mr Dragan Saponjic.
"Mr. Lilic refused to testify before the court," Mr Saponjic said.
Mr Saponjic said the Belgrade government, acting upon a tribunal request, detained the former head of state and forcefully put him on a plane to The Hague.
PA