Reaction to the arrest of the former Bosnian Serb leader, who has been on the run for 13 years, suspected of war crimes:

“As the phone rang, I knew something was wrong. I’m shocked. Confused. At least now we know he is alive.” Ljiljana Karadzic, Dr Karadzic’s wife.

“We have been waiting for 13 years and we lost hope. Now we know - there is justice.” Kada Hotic, a survivor of the Srebrenica massacre which Dr Karadzic is charged with orchestrating.

“The four years that I was working with NATO to try and catch him were peppered by rumours of where he was - in this cafe, on that mountain, in this valley - so it’s been a long-hoped-for day.” Lord Paddy Ashdown, former top international administrator in Bosnia.

“He just said that these people showed him a police badge and then he was taken to some place and kept in the room. He was blindfolded, and that is absolutely against the law what they did.” Sveta Vujacic, Dr Karadzic’s lawyer in Serbia.

“He was at large because the Yugoslav army was protecting him. But this guy in my view was worse than Milosevic... he was the intellectual leader.” Richard Holbrooke, former US ambassador who helped negotiate an end to the 1992-1995 Bosnian War.

“This news gives us immense satisfaction. The new government in Belgrade stands for a new Serbia, for a new quality of relations with the EU.” Javier Solana, EU foreign affairs chief.

"He did not surrender, that is not his style." Luka Karadzic, Radovan's brother

“We congratulate the government of Serbia, and thank the people who conducted this operation for their professionalism and courage.” Statement from the White House.

“We consider this an internal matter for Serbia, whose authorities should themselves make a decision on the possible extradition of Karadzic.” Russian foreign ministry official.

“This is an important day for international justice because it clearly demonstrates that nobody is beyond the reach of the law and that sooner or later all fugitives will be brought to justice.” Serge Brammertz, head prosecutor for the UN War Crimes Tribunal.

“This man was responsible for some of the worst abuses of human rights in Europe in the last 60 years.” Terry Davis, secretary general of the Council of Europe, the guardian of the European Convention on Human Rights.

“This is obviously the effect and first visible result of the new government in Serbia. The Hague tribunal is not a place where justice is being served. Its work so far shows that it is a political court and that is why we don’t think that Radovan Karadzic will have a fair trial.” Mladen Bosic, the head of the Serb Democratic Party founded by Karadzic.

“Following Boris Tadic’s election victory (the pro-European president of Serbia), all reasons for Serbia to remain being held hostage by the psychopath-psychiatrist disappeared.” Commentary in Oslobodjenje, a daily newspaper in Sarajevo.

“Bosnia-Hercegovina, as well as the entire region, is entering a new phase. Nothing will be the same from today.” Commentary in Dnevni Avaz, another Bosnian daily paper.

“I called and woke up my whole family.” Fadil Bico, a resident of Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital which was besieged for months by Bosnian Serb forces directed by Dr Karadzic.

“I think this brings some settlement in our hearts and brings us forward to the future. I hope that people who had to keep quiet because of Karadzic will start revealing the locations of mass graves and let us find the truth about our beloved ones.” Munira Subasic, a mother who lost two sons in the Srebrenica massacre.

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