Over 10,000 people gathered in Banja Luka on Tuesday to express support for former Republika Srpska (RS)general Ratko Mladic, who was arrested last week.

The rally was organized by the RS war veterans association, whose leaders protested Mladic's arrest.

"Mladic is a Serbian hero, not a war criminal," the protest organizers said, and appealed to the RS authorities to help with his defense at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

The protesters, who came from all parts of RS, were carrying photos of Mladic and chanting his name. Among the participants were RS Vice President Emil Vlajki, Minister of Labor and Veteran-Invalid Protection Petar Djokic, members of parliament, Serbian Democratic Party leader Mladen Bosic, and members of the clergy.

Strong police forces were present at the protest and the organizers also had their own security. In the last few days, support rallies for Mladic were held in several cities in RS.