Milosevic ally's suicide, say police

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- A close associate of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, who was found dead in his car, probably committed suicide, police say.

The body of former Interior Minister Zoran Sokolovic was discovered in his Lada near the town of Knjazevac, about 125 miles south-east of Belgrade.

A post mortem is being carried out but a police statement said the first results of their investigation found that Sokolovic "most likely committed suicide with a pistol."

Sokolovic served as Serbian and later as Yugoslav interior minister under Milosevic and was regarded as one of the longtime leader's closest associates.

Milosevic was forced to leave office last October after by a mass uprising. A new reformist-dominated government was appointed the following month.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

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