SERBIA braced yesterday for protests against the arrest of Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect Ratko Mladic amid fears of an outbreak of ultra-nationalist street violence.

    From his cell in Serbia where he was waiting to be transferred to a U.N. war crimes court in The Hague, Mladic called for calm, his lawyer said.

    “He is appealing to people to calm down, there should be no bloodshed, he does not want to be a cause of unrest,” lawyer Milos Saljic told reporters Saturday.

    The authorities have nonetheless stepped up security before the protest, called by the ultra-nationalist Radical Party (SRS) from 7:00 p.m., though they have promised it will be allowed to go ahead.

    “The police will not use force in advance... only if there is a drastic violation of public peace and order,” Interior Minister Ivica Dacic told journalists.

    “Security measures have been increased to a higher level,” he said, including around state buildings and embassies.

    After the arrest of Bosnian Serb wartime political leader Radovan Karadzic in July 2008, thousands of ultra-nationalists violently protested in Belgrade, leaving one dead.

    Mladic, the head of Bosnian Serb forces during the 1992-95 Bosnian war, is still considered a hero by many in Serbia.

    His lawyer is expected to launch an appeal today against a ruling that he is fit to stand trial and be transferred to the international court.

    (SD-Agencies)