Dutch order former Yugoslav spy to leave

AMSTERDAM, Apr 15 (Reuters) The Dutch Justice Ministry has decided to deport a former Yugoslav spy who has lived in the Netherlands for 33 years, saying it was now safe for him to return to his homeland, Dutch media reported today.

Former secret agent Slobodan Mitric, known as Karate Bob, fled to the Netherlands in 1973, saying he had refused to carry out an assassination in the then Yugoslavia, Dutch public television NOS said on its teletext pages.

He later served a 13-year prison sentence in the Netherlands for killing three Serbs, who he said were sent by Belgrade to murder him.

Mitric's lawyer told Dutch news agency ANP he would appeal the ministry's decision to make him leave by April 26 as he said Mitric could still face charges in Serbia for desertion.

REUTERS SHB RN1706