Serbian Government sizes independent Media

 

May 17, 2000; Belgrade

 

In a surprise raid at about 02:00 CET this morning the Serbian Government seized control of Belgrade City broadcaster Studio B, closing down its news program. The attack also pulled the plug on independent Radio B2-92 in Belgrade, which broadcasts on Studio B's third frequency and Radio Index, which is situated in the same building. A statement released this morning over the signatures of Deputy Serbian Prime Ministers Vojislav Seselj, the leader of the Serbian Radical Party and Milovan Bojic, a prominent member of the Yugoslav Left, said that the Republic of Serbia had taken control of Studio B because the station had repeatedly called for the overthrow of the Serbian Government.