Serbia's pro-Western President targeted

Serbia's pro-Western President Boris Tadic survived an apparent assassination attempt when a car repeatedly tried to crash into his motorcade, his press office said last night.

The incident occurred in downtown Belgrade when a black Audi "tried several times to crash" into Tadic's car but was cut off by another vehicle from Tadic's security, the office said.

Tadic was unhurt in the incident, and the car fled the scene. Pro-Western Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was assassinated in March 2003 in front of his Belgrade office in a sniper attack. Several paramilitary and gang figures are standing trial in the case.