Milosevic: U.N. handover 'kidnap'

A Milosevic supporter cries during a protest in Podgorica, Montenegro

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands (CNN) -- Defiant ex-Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic is spending his second day in a U.N. jail -- telling his lawyers his extradition to face war crimes charges was "kidnap."

As thousands protested over Milosevic's handover, he has told his lawyers he is innocent, feels no regret and would make the same decisions again, CNN's Alessio Vinci said.

Milosevic was presented on Friday with an expanded war crimes indictment adding new charges after his dramatic extradition to the U.N. war crimes tribunal in the Netherlands.

He is accused of murder, deportation and prosecution of people on political, racial and ethnic grounds during his tenure as Yugoslav president and Serbian leader, and is due to appear before the court on Tuesday.

VIDEO CNN's Jill Dougherty reports on Russian criticism of the extradition of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to The Hague (June 29) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Christiane Amanpour talks with the chief prosecutor of the war crimes tribunal in the Hague (June 29) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Alessio Vinci reports on the Milosevic extradition (June 28) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   AUDIO CNN's Christiane Amanpour: Milosevic will appear in court on Tuesday 813 KB / 70 secs AIFF or WAV sound Russian concern over extradition 1.76 MB / 170 secs AIFF or WAV sound   QUICKVOTE Will Slobodan Milosevic receive a fair trial at the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal? Yes No - he should have been tried at home View Results RESOURCES The ICTY indictment against Slobodan Milosevic  (United Nations) War crimes tribunal: Key facts

Milosevic has said he was "kidnapped" when taken from Belgrade's Central Prison on Thursday, his lawyer Branimir Gugl said.

In Yugoslavia, the resignation of prime minister Zoran Zizic in protest at the Serbian government's decision to hand Milosevic over to the tribunal has threatened the government's collapse.

Vinci reported Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica would have to find a new Yugoslav prime minister by the end of next week or dissolve the parliament and call for new elections.

Meanwhile, Kostunica -- who described the handover as "illegal and unconstitutional" -- is also withdrawing his deputies from the pro-reform coalition in both the Serbian and federal parliaments.

His party is also now demanding a cabinet reshuffle at both the federal and Serbian levels, meaning the DOS coalition that ousted Milosevic from power may be falling apart in the coming days, Vinci said.

Montenegrin officials told the Associated Press Milosevic's extradition was "illegal and unconstitutional" and "jeopardises the functioning of Yugoslavia and its existence."

But the hand over brought praise from world leaders, and within hours of the extradition a donors conference in Brussels agreed to provide Yugoslavia with a $1.28 billion aid package.

The money will be used to begin rebuilding Yugoslavia after 13 years of Milosevic's rule, international sanctions and NATO's 78-day bombing campaign in 1999.

The chief war crimes prosecutor for the U.N. Tribunal, Carla Del Ponte, said the tribunal is "only at the start of the case against Slobodan Milosevic, not at the end."

She said the amended indictment against Milosevic was based on five new mass grave sites in Serbia that have yielded more victims.

"It is important ... in the initial appearance that we have the Kosovo indictment almost done," Del Ponte told CNN.

Milosevic could face further charges for his role in the Bosnian and Croatian war, which ended with the Dayton Peace Accord in 1995.

"The transfer of Slobodan Milosevic will now lend renewed energy to the task of arresting those fugitives who are still at liberty," Del Ponte said.

She noted that former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and Serb military leader Ratko Mladic, who were indicted almost six years ago, are still at large.

"The fact that they have not been arrested when we are preparing the trial of other members of the Bosnian Serb leadership is scandalous," she added.

Milosevic's lawyers in Belgrade said they had spoken to their client over the telephone and that he said he did not feel guilty and had acted in the interest of the country.

Milosevic, 59, was removed from prison in Yugoslavia on Thursday evening and arrived at the tribunal jail at The Hague early on Friday morning.

He is the first former head of state to be transferred to The Hague for trial.

Officials in The Hague said Milosevic had undergone initial check-in procedures, including a physical evaluation, and was being held in a cell at a detention facility.

"The next step is his first appearance in court. We expect that to be Tuesday morning," said Jim Landale, a spokesman for the tribunal.

At this appearance, prosecutors will read aloud the status of the charges and the indicted suspect would then enter his plea of guilty or not guilty to each charge.

Milosevic was indicted in 1999 for the crackdown carried out by security forces in Kosovo against ethnic Albanians before NATO's air war.

He was arrested April 1 on allegations of corruption in office and had been held in prison in Belgrade since that time while the allegations were investigated.

His new cell in The Hague is located in a prison once used by Nazi occupying forces to detain Dutch resistance fighters.

The maximum sentence Milosevic could receive if convicted is life in prison.