"You were our window to the world"

Belgrade, March 13, 2003 - Hundreds of Belgraders are still waiting silently and peacefully in front of the Serbian government building, in central Belgrade, to sign the book of condolences and pay their respects to the late Prime Minister, Zoran Djindjic, who was brutally murdered yesterday. The queue extends from the corner of Kneza Milosa and Nemanjina Streets to Admirala Geprata Street and further still.

A book of condolences was opened at 12.00. A long queue of people had formed an hour prior to that. The book will be open until Saturday, March 15, 2003, at 10.00.

In front of the government building's main entrance are rows of lit candles and piles of wreaths. One handwritten message reads: "You were our window to the world", and "Serbia - what a pity, what a sin, what a shame".

The book has been signed by citizens, but also by many state officials, diplomats, Serbia and Montenegro Army personnel, representatives of international organisations, and religious communities. Among the signatories are EU high representatives Javier Solana and Chris Patten, as well as the ambassadors of Italy, Greece, Israel, Cypress, France, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, and more.