Yugoslav authorities say six Serbian war crimes suspects have agreed to surrender voluntarily to the United Nations tribunal in the Hague. 

The announcement came just hours after the expiration of a Yugoslav government deadline for 23 indicted war crimes suspects to surrender to the Hague court. 

The government announcement lists the six as the former commander of Yugoslav forces in Serbia's Kosovo province, General Dragoljub Ojdanic; former Serbian Interior Minister Nikola Sainovic; former Croatian Serb leader Milan Martic; Mile Mrksic; Vladimir Kovacevic and Momcilo Gruban. 

The statement said indictments covering the 17 who failed to surrender will be presented to a Belgrade court Wednesday. 

Under legislation adopted earlier this month, Yugoslav and Serbian authorities promised their support to those who turn themselves in, as they seek release on bail pending trial. The legislation provides for the extradition to the Hague of all suspects already indicted by the U.N. tribunal. 

The list of 23 suspects Yugoslav authorities published last week also includes the names of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic and his military chief General Ratko Mladic. 

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.

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