Serbian police probe death threats against president on Facebook

Updated: 2010-04-28 05

(Xinhua)

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Serbian police are investigating a Facebook group that is calling for the assassination of President Boris Tadic, the Serbian news agency Tanjug reported Tuesday.

Although the group has no members, its threatening messages and comments directed at the president came mere weeks after the plot to murder several high ranking Serbian officials, including Tadic, was revealed. It was allegedly ordered by a "narco mafia" boss.

"Things are very simple - this government has launched perhaps the largest action in history against organized crime, which has its 'feelers' in all segments of society," said Jelen Trivan, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, of which Tadic is leader. She said the Facebook group was part of a broader campaign to create public opinion, and as such it was important that the source be uncovered.

Ivica Dacic, minister of internal affairs, said his office would be seeking cooperation from the U.S. government in this investigation.

"We will turn to the U.S. Department of Justice without whose warrant it is not possible to obtain information (from Facebook)," said Dacic.

In 2003, then Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, one of the founders of the Democratic Party, was assassinated by a group with links to organized crime.