Car 'tries to ram' Serb president

Associated Press | 1 December 2004

[mark502inf]

BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro (AP) -- Serbia's pro-Western President Boris Tadic survived an apparent assassination attempt when a car repeatedly tried to crash into his motorcade, his press office said Wednesday.

The incident occurred late Tuesday in downtown Belgrade when a black Audi "tried several times to crash" into Tadic's car but was cut off by another vehicle from Tadic's security, the office said.

Tadic was unhurt in the incident, and the Audi fled the scene in Belgrade's plush Dedinje district after the security car rammed into it, the office added.

The office said Tadic's security team noticed that the car was following the motorcade for a while before the incident.

No other details or possible motives were given.

Pro-Western Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was assassinated in March 2003 in front of his downtown Belgrade office in a sniper attack.

Several paramilitary and gang figures associated with former President Slobodan Milosevic are standing trial in the case. They are accused of killing Djindjic in order to bring Milosevic's allies back to power in Serbia.

Tadic, who elected Serbian president in June this year, took over the leadership of the pro-Western Democratic Party from Djindjic following his assassination.

Tadic, considered the most popular Serbian politician, is hated by nationalists who oppose his pro-Western policies and calls for over a dozen Serb war crimes suspects to be extradited to the U.N. war crimes tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands.

Tadic's Democratic Party led the rebellion that toppled Milosevic, the former president of Yugoslavia, Serbia-Montenegro's predecessor, in October 2000, and extradited him for trial to The Hague a year later

Only a few weeks before Djindjic was killed, he survived a similar assassination attempt when a truck tried to crash into his motorcade on Belgrade's main highway.

[mark502inf]

No other details or possible motives were given...Several paramilitary and gang figures associated with former President Slobodan Milosevic are ... accused of killing Djindjic in order to bring Milosevic's allies back to power in Serbia...Tadic, considered the most popular Serbian politician, is hated by nationalists who oppose his pro-Western policies and calls for over a dozen Serb war crimes suspects to be extradited to the U.N. war crimes tribunal

[Tax-chick]

a black Audi "tried several times to crash" into Tadic's car but was cut off by another vehicle from Tadic's security, the office said. Tadic was unhurt in the incident, and the Audi fled the scene

I'll bet it was an Audi SUV!

[Jaded]

It has that sort of flair doesn't it?

[mark502inf]

Any of you guys own an Audi?

[MisterRepublican]

Damnit, now those vicious SUVs are coercing the gentle, kind-hearted Audis to do their dirty work!

[BigCinBigD]

Was it a....Serbaru?

[NutmegDevil]

I'll bet it was an Audi SUV! - Operating clandestinely to obvert MSM criticism.

[mark502inf]

Was it a....Serbaru?

LOL--best so far!

[MarshallDillon]

I bet a nice Hummer would have made a difference.

[wingsof liberty]

I do, an A4. Great car. Those Germans may not be princes, what with the Oil-for-food kickbacks and all, but they do make good cars.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

Another victim of "unintended acceleration."

[Marko37]

And it turned out that the driver/assassin was an US embassy employee (though a citizen of Serbia & Montenegro). Time for another conspiracy theory... :)

[mark502inf]

the driver/assassin was an US embassy employee

Then he should have been driving an American-made car!

[DTA]

Mark, seems you just suffered another bout of Foot in the mouth disease.

I find several things scarry:

1. That people of your analytical capacity actually got to do anything in the Balkan mess. (The report was fishy from the beggining and it was obvious. The fact about U.S. Embassy waiting 15 hours to report driver identity is laughable.)

2. That people of Miroslav Chimpl mental capacity can be employed as U.S. Embassy security staff. Scarry stuff.

3. The perp, Miroslav Cimpl is not a Serb. He is Czech (just like Madeline Albright). Possible infiltration of foreign intel service or fifth column within DOS could be suspected in this case.

The cleanup of State Department is LONG OVERDUE and it should start ASAP. Having in mind numerous blunders, BELGRADE EMBASSY SHOULD BE GOOD PPLACE TO START.

[mark502inf]

The cleanup of State Department is LONG OVERDUE and it should start ASAP. Having in mind numerous blunders, BELGRADE EMBASSY SHOULD BE GOOD PPLACE TO START.

C'mon DTA, isn't that a little harsh for hiring a guy who couldn't drive?

[DTA]

>>>>>C'mon DTA, isn't that a little harsh for hiring a guy who couldn't drive?<<<<

How many foreign embassy security staff in any country in the world ever tried to ram the car belonging to the President trvelling in a motorcade? I guess none.

Serbian President is driven in Mercedes with unique four digit licence plates (e.g. BG-50-00) and is surrounded by similar cars. Flashing lights are different from ordinary unmarked police car (flashing Blue and red). It is simply not possible not to realize it is motorcade. Plus, Cobra Unit bodyguards are threatening enough.

Yet, U.S. embassy security guard tailed motorcade and attempred several times to squeeze in into the motorcade for more than 2 miles. (First attempt at Kneza Miosha Street near Canadian Embassy, continued chase over overpass bridge into Vojvode Putnika Bulevard and attempted to cut motorcade at Topciderska Zvezda intersection (half mile from U.S. Ambassador residence in 50 Uzicka street)

Tailing motorcade UPHILL for one mile on a narrow road requires quite a driving skill and courage, unless the "incident" was prearranged..

[ma bell]

Mark..i have news for you...Tadic IS NOT VERY POPULAR amongst the Serbs. The only reason why he was voted in was to shake up Kostunica, to get him to 'DO SOMETHING', instead of talking.

Very few people, especially the 20-30somethings prefer Kostunica over Tadic.

[ma bell]

hey..if you dont mind, i will do a TM/COPYRIGHT of that...Serbaru!

[Jomini]

Hard to say what this is all about... Happily the MDB re-elected with a clear mandate on foreign policy and the word on the Hill is that a more aggressive stance in the Balkans is coming.

Down the road a bit in Banja Luka its time for a change and the oversight committee has given the green light to put Milorad Dodik back in power. With the uniforms moving out it's time to get the band back together again -- we should see some action beginning in the RS in the next couple of weeks.

J

[Raycpa]

I hate it when my car trys to ram other people.