Croatia Wants War Crimes Suspect Seselj back in Custody

Croatian lawmakers called Wednesday for a U.N. court to take Serb war crimes suspect Vojislav Seselj back into custody because he has spread "hatred and intolerance" since his release for cancer treatment.

MPs present in parliament unanimously passed a resolution voicing their deep dismay over the decision by the court in The Hague to free the firebrand ultranationalist, who went home to Serbia on November 12.

They said Seselj, who is said to be suffering from liver and colon cancer, has been spreading "ethnic and national hatred and intolerance, insulting and humiliating (war crimes) victims".

Seselj, who had spent almost 12 years in detention, is awaiting a verdict from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) over charges he incited massacres during the 1990s Balkan wars.

His release provoked outrage among victims of the wars in Bosnia and Croatia.

Seselj's trial -- often marked by his virulent outbursts against the judges -- wrapped up in March 2012.

The 60-year-old pleaded not guilty to nine counts including murder, torture, cruel treatment and wanton destruction of villages.

Since his return, he has fired off a series of inflammatory comments, vowing to unseat his once closest allies who are now in power in Serbia.

He also attracted about 10,000 ultranationalist supporters at a Belgrade rally where he called for Serbia to turn towards Russia instead of "its enemies" in the West.

Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusic said she had informed her EU peers about Seselj warned that his rhetoric risked inflaming tensions in the volatile region.

She also called on the authorities in Serbia -- which is seeking to join the European Union -- to distance themselves from Seselj's statements.