HAN PIJESAK (Bosnia-Herzegovina): Nato’s failed attempts to put Radovan Karadzic, Europe’s most wanted war crime suspect, behind bars is feeding the legend of an elusive hero, developed by Bosnian Serbs who have been helping him escape the peacekeepers.

“The Serb Talibans” and “Do not give away our brothers” are among song titles of the latest home-produced folk songs pledging protection and support to Karadzic and his army commander Ratko Mladic, both accused of genocide committed during Bosnia’s 1992-95 war.

The two fugitives are considered heroes among the rural Serb population for their role in the war that killed 200.000 people. Karadzic’s alert system among the local populace is blamed for two failed attempts by the Nato-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) to capture him during two raids in February and March in the remote southeastern village of Celebici.

The tapes, issued in a clear response to the Nato operations, soon became bestsellers at makeshift roadside stands in eastern Bosnia.

“The sale of these tapes is excellent despite the fact that their price is higher than it is usual for (audio) tapes,” said one vendor at a stand near Han Pijesak, the wartime headquarters of the Bosnian Serb army, pointing to a dozen different tapes with photos of Karadzic and Mladic on the cover.

The strongly anti-American song of “Serb Talibans” calls for the death of Carla Del Ponte, chief prosecutor of the UN war crimes tribunal. The death list also includes British Premier Tony Blair, former US president Bill Clinton, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Javier Solana, former Nato Secretary General.

Some songs also cheer the Sept 11 terror attack in the United States with lyrics including: “America, you got what you deserved” and “Arab bin Laden... is a Serb Miladin (a common Serb name).”

Another song, dedicated to “brother” Karadzic, says: “They offer us a fortune to give you away... they distribute leaflets with your photo,” adding that “no money in no time would make us give away Radovan.”—AFP