War crimes suspect faces Australian extradition

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia has approved the extradition of a Serbian war crimes suspect to Croatia over allegations of torture and murder during Zagreb's 1991-1995 war of independence, officials said on Saturday.

Dragan Vasiljkovic, known as "Captain Dragan", was a paramilitary commander with a Serbian rebel group opposed to Croatian independence from Yugoslavia. The Belgrade-born Australian citizen denies war crimes.

Vasiljkovic's fate fell into the hands of Australian Justice Minister Jason Clare after losing an appeal against a November 2010 court ruling that he could be extradited.

A spokeswoman for Mr Clare's office said on Saturday that the minister had determined that the war crimes suspect should be surrendered to face prosecution, adding that Vasiljkovic could seek review of the decision.