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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Power Struggle

Associated Press

The general who led the rebel Serb war in Bosnia rejected his demotion from the top military post, setting the stage Saturday for a power struggle with Serb leader Radovan Karadzic.

Gen. Ratko Mladic was demoted Friday to the post of adviser by Karadzic, who said he would take command of the Serb forces himself.

But Mladic issued a statement Saturday rejecting the demotion as “unconstitutional and illegitimate.” He said he would remain commander “as our people support me.”