Germany-Serbia-Karadzic
German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed on Wednesday the arrest of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, calling it an 'important step'.

Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Merkel said that Monday night's capture of Karadzic by Serbian security forces was a 'good day'.

She reiterated Belgrade's full cooperation with The Hague-based International Tribunal would pave the way for implementing the stabilization and association accord between the European Union and Serbia.

The 63-year-old Karadzic was detained Monday in Belgrade after being on the run for 12 years.

He is charged by the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia with genocide and crimes against humanity during the 1992- 95 Bosnia war.

Serbia plans to extradite Karadzic to the tribunal over the next days after procedural issues and an appeal by his legal team have been addressed.