Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic (L) and Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic sign documents in this undated file photo. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

The former Bosnian Serb leader was arrested last night in Belgrade while moving to a different location, the two officials said, adding that the operation had begun yesterday afternoon and preparations had been underway some time earlier.

But they denied that the arrest was done by a chosen place and time, explaining that Karadzic's whereabouts were found out when security agents were following a group of people suspected of being part of the fugitive's support network.

"There was international pressure to arrest Mladic, not many people expected Karadzic's arrest. But operative knowledge led to his location and arrest," Ljajic said.

Ljajic and Vukcevic declined to reveal details of the arrest, saying a reconstruction of the suspect's movement was still ongoing which could be of help in the hunt for the remaining fugitives.

Karadzic was questioned by the investigative judge at Belgrade District Court earlier in the day, but he was silent for the most part, and he had been handed his Tribunal indictment.

Vukcevic said Karadzic will be extradited to the Hague Tribunal.

  A worker checks the new issue of the day's newspaper, featuring Radovan Kradzic on the front page, in Belgrade July 22, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)