Yugoslav army chief sacked

The U.N. war crimes tribunal has said it is investigating Pavkovic

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- The Chief of Staff of Yugoslavia's army has been sacked by President Vojislav Kostunica.

General Nebojsa Pavkovic, who was appointed during the Slobodan Milosevic era and survived his downfall, was dismissed on Monday by executive decree.

But Pavkovic has been quoted Yugoslav state TV saying he would not accept his sacking.

The presidential order reportedly follows Kostunica's failure to persuade the president's of Serbia and Montenegro that Pavkovic should be dismissed.

A statement from Kostunica's military cabinet said: "Acting within his presidential and constitutional jurisdiction, Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica has issued an edict ending the military service of the Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Nebojsa Pavkovic."

In a statement to Radio-TV of Serbia, Kostunica said he was replacing Pavkovic because the army needed civil control and further democracy.

Kostunica has promoted deputy army chief Branko Krga to Pavkovic's position, Reuters reported.

Pavkovic has been closely associated with the Balkan wars of the 1990s and reformists have long called for his removal from office.

He told state TV: "Of course, I have refused this and I will not carry out this order. I am demanding the protection of the highest state institutions."

Pavkovic said the decision was illegal because it was made by Kostunica alone, and was not supported by the presidents of the Yugoslav republics, Serbia and Montenegro.

Pavkovic, speaking to the state news agency Tanjug, earlier said parts of the U.S. administration were behind demands for his dismissal.

He called on Kostunica to resist "undemocratic pressure from abroad as that could completely destabilise the country."

Prosecutors at the U.N. war crimes tribunal said last November they were investigating Pavkovic over Kosovo. He was commander of the Third Army during the conflict and his zone of responsibility included the southern Serbian province.

Pavkovic, 56, has denied the army was involved in war crimes or systematic human rights abuses and suggested irregular volunteer forces are more likely to have been guilty.