The government of Yugoslavia has benefited already from the international goodwill generated by arresting the former president, Mr Slobodan Milosevic, with the US decision yesterday to proceed with a $50 million aid package.
The aid had been in doubt up to the weekend with growing fears that the slowness of moves towards full democratisation in Yugoslavia would lead to the suspension of the funds. There was even more at stake, since US support for loans from international financial institutions would also have been withdrawn.
The US decision is a welcome development in the Yugoslav capital as the country struggles to repair the damage to its infrastructure and economy caused by the NATO bombing campaign.
However, the flow of money could yet come to a halt if there is any perceived foot-dragging on the issue of transferring the former ruler to The Hague to face charges at the United Nations war crimes tribunal. This is not an overt condition for continuing the aid but the new administration will doubtless be penalised if there is an obvious lack of co-operation.
Yugoslav law does not provide for the transfer of Mr Milosevic to an international tribunal, a spokesman said after the weekend's events. However, there may be moves to change the law in coming months.
The array of charges against Mr Milosevic, currently in Belgrade's central prison, is beginning to widen beyond the original allegations of corruption and embezzlement during his 13-year period of rule. For example, he may find himself facing allegations of arranging to have political opponents assassinated. In addition, police involved in the arrest have said that he incited bodyguards to fire at them.
The former president was consulting his lawyer, Mr Toma Fila, yesterday in preparation for an appeal against a judge's decision to keep him in detention for 30 days. Mr Fila said his 59-year-old client was very tired, as he had not slept for four or five nights, but otherwise he was well. Previously, he said Mr Milosevic was depressed and taking tranquillisers.
The former president will appear in court today and plans to lodge an appeal against his detention this week. He has denied allegations that he diverted the equivalent of more than $100 million in customs duties to his own Socialist Party.
But there may be other charges arising from events surrounding this arrest. His daughter Marija (35) allegedly fired five shots at the time. Local radio reported that an arsenal was discovered at the Milosevic villa, including two armoured personnel carriers, a number of machine guns and 20 pistols.
There are unconfirmed reports that he agreed to go quietly after he was assured that he would not be transferred to The Hague.
AFP adds: Mr Milosevic yesterday admitted that Belgrade secretly financed the armies of Bosnian and Croatian Serbs in their wars in the early 1990s.
The confession was part of the appeal he drafted. He said he had not used the money for personal profit but to help Serb separatists.