GENERAL TO BE BURIED TOMORROW - DARKO MLADIĆ SAYS FUNERAL EXPECTED TO BE PEACEFUL AND DIGNIFIED

BELGRADE, SEPTEMBER 6 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska Army /RSA/ General Ratko Mladić will be buried tomorrow at Topčider Cemetery in Belgrade.

His remains will be laid at St Luke's Church in Belgrade's Vidikovac neighborhood from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, where family members, friends and supporters will be able to pay their respects to the Serbian general in accordance with Orthodox customs.

According to announcements by organizations from Republika Srpska formed out of the Defensive-Homeland War, several thousand of Mladić's former comrades are expected to arrive in an organized manner, along with a large number of citizens from Republika Srpska and Serbia.

Darko Mladić, the son of the late General Ratko Mladić, has stated today that people had shown great love for his father and that he believed the funeral would pass peacefully and with dignity.

"Friends, supporters and relatives of my father will come tomorrow. I am certain that none of them has any intention of causing an incident. On the other hand, there have been some distasteful expressions of hatred, but I believe the authorities will take all necessary measures to ensure that the funeral passes peacefully and with dignity," Mladić said in a statement to Prva TV.

He stressed that he could see the great affection people had shown for his father.

"I have personally experienced these reactions. People have released that energy. What made the greatest impression was the number of messages and calls," he said.

The family of General Ratko Mladić previously appealed to anyone planning to buy flowers or wreaths for the funeral not to do so, but instead to donate the money to children suffering from illness.

A memorial service for General Mladić was held yesterday at the House of the Serbian Army, attended by his family, former comrades-in-arms and friends.

Officials from Republika Srpska and Serbia also attended the memorial service.