Purda is detained in Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose State Court adopted a ruling earlier today allowing his extradition to Serbia, where he is wanted on war crimes charges.

"After carrying out an investigation, either in Belgrade if he is extradited, or in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we will adopt a decision after comparing all the material we have from Zagreb, what we collected here in Belgrade and what we will collect, namely the depositions we will get in Bosnia and Herzegovina," Vekaric told Belgrade's B92 television.

"The decision will come after that. Before that, we can't predict anything," he said.

According to Vekaric, this is a matter of two different proceedings, the first referring to Purda's extradition and the second to the request by the Serbian prosecutor's office for war crimes to depose Purda in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This could expedite the prosecutor's decision in the case, he said.

Purda was arrested on Bosnia on January 5 on a Serbian warrant on charges of war crimes against prisoners and infirm persons.

The Bosnian State Court today ruled for Serbia's request for his extradition.

The parties in the proceedings have three days to appeal the ruling. Purda's attorney Josip Muselinovic announced he would lodge an appeal.

Bosnian State Court spokeswoman Selma Hadzic told press the appellate court ruled relatively quickly in such cases.

This decision is then submitted to the Bosnian Justice Ministry for final approval. The minister can either uphold it or decide himself whether Purda will be transferred to Serbia or released.