BELGRADE (AP) - Opposition politicians accused Serbia’s conservative prime minister yesterday of following in former president Slobodan Milosevic’s footsteps with the allegedly retaliatory arrest of a leading critic, former Justice Minister Vladan Batic. “Kostunica today is behaving as Milosevic once did, jailing his political opponents,” said former Deputy Prime Minister Cedomir Jovanovic. “The illusion that there is democracy in Serbia is gone.”

BUCHAREST (AP) - The EU’s justice commissioner commended Romania yesterday for its progress in reforming its justice system, but said the country needs to do more to tighten security on its borders. EU Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Franco Frattini, who was concluding a two-day visit to Romania yesterday, said the country has adopted most of the laws required by the EU, and should focus now on applying them.

Bulgaria was bracing yesterday for double-digit increases in the cost of energy this weekend after the state regulator announced a sharp rise in the price of electricity and gas for businesses. The Bulgarian energy regulator announced late on Thursday that electricity prices would go up by 13-17 percent and gas would increase by 18.11 percent. The new tariffs are set to enter into force today. (AFP)

Mayors and other local officials from 25 Balkan countries began a three-day meeting yesterday in southern Romania to discuss regional cooperation and ways to fight drug-trafficking and other crimes. The meeting is taking place in the city of Craiova, which currently chairs the Balkan Cities’ Network, also known as Balcinet. (AP)

Turkish maritime officials said yesterday the Bosporus, separating Istanbul’s Asian and European parts, was closed in the morning to shipping traffic due to heavy fog. An official said reopening the strait would depend on weather conditions. (Reuters)

Police in Kosovo offered a reward yesterday for information on the attack against a Serb regional police chief. The force offered a 5,000-euro (US$6,000) reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunmen who shot and wounded Col. Dejan Jankovic, the recently appointed commander for the eastern part of the province. (AP)