Karadzic, Mladic Gaining Popularity

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina — Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and his military commander, Gen. Ratko Mladic, are more popular among their people now than they were in 1995, according to a poll commissioned by the U.S. Information Agency.

Karadzic and Mladic have been indicted on war crimes charges and are banned from office under last year’s Dayton, Ohio, peace accord.

The poll, a survey of 964 Serbs living in Bosnia-Herzegovina, showed that Karadzic improved his standing from 63% in 1995 to 68%. Mladic, revered among Bosnian Serbs, saw his rating improve from 87% to 93%, the USIA said.

The survey cast doubt on claims that Karadzic’s support had declined and that moderates would be able to challenge him and other hard-liners in Bosnia’s upcoming elections.