Former Bosnian leader Ganic freed on bail

A security payment of 300,000 pounds had been provided for Ganic by ˝an anonymous lady of substantial means,˝ the judge said.

LONDON, March 11, 2010 (AFP) - Former Bosnian leader Ejup Ganic is to be released on bail, although on stringent conditions, after his arrest on war crimes charges last week, the High Court in London ruled Thursday.

The court said that Ganic should be freed on conditions including a night-time curfew and that he remain at an undisclosed central London address, and report regularly to a police station.

A security payment of 300,000 pounds (450,000 dollars, 330,000 euros) had been provided for Ganic by "an anonymous lady of substantial means," the judge said.

Ganic, who is known to have a long-standing friendship with former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, was not present for the verdict.

His son Emir and daughter Emina embraced in court as the judge granted bail.

"We are very happy with the outcome, it has been very emotional. This is just the first step. My father is an academic who has never spent a day in prison before," Emir Ganic said.

The ex-Bosnian leader, 64, has been held in Wandsworth prison in south London since he was arrested as he was preparing to leave Britain from the city's Heathrow Airport on March 1.

He was detained on a provisional arrest warrant so Serbian authorities could seek his extradition to stand trial there.

Belgrade believes he is implicated with the killing of 18 soldiers and officers in an attack on a Yugoslav army convoy in May 1992. Ganic was a member of the Bosnian presidency at the time.

The judge ordered him to appear in a London magistrates' court on April 13, but he may have to appear before that.

As well as the 300,000-pound security from an anonymous donor, the judge also required a surety of 25,000 pounds which was provided by the vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham, a colleague of Ganic.