Cimpl truth: OBSERVER
Financial Times (London, England) - December 3, 2004 Friday

Bad driving is part of American life; in Serbia it can be misconstrued.

Two years after Zoran Djindjic, the prime minister, was killed, the police reported an attempt on Boris Tadic, the president.

On Tuesday an Audi had suddenly accelerated and rammed the president's BMW. Tadic was unhurt, and the Audi in question escaped.

After a vast 24-hour manhunt and blizzard of conspiracy theories, the US embassy solved the crime.

The culprit, Miroslav Cimpl, works there. The embassy driver, it emerged, had been steering peacefully down the street, his dog in the passenger's seat. Suddenly, a motorcade appeared, swerving violently to force other cars out of its path.

Taking exception, Cimpl wheeled round and gave the BMWs a taste of their own medicine. The presidential car refused to budge and there was a crash before Cimpl sped away.

US diplomats have apologised, but Cimpl sits in police custody. In a country bombed by US warplanes just five years ago, the conspiracy theorists have plenty to occupy themselves during the long winter.

SECTION: OBSERVER; Pg. 12; USA Edition 1

Copyright 2004 The Financial Times Limited
Posted for Fair Use only.