S-For troops were deployed on Tuesday morning

S-For troops withdrew on Wednesday evening after being deployed on Tuesday around various sites associated with the Bosnian Serb wartime leader and his family in the mountain village of Pale, near Sarajevo.

The target sites included his daughter Sonja's house and a clinic owned by his wife Ljiljana.

"Their aim was to gather information and monitor the local situation and potential efforts of persons conducting activities that impede the progress and development of Bosnia and Hercegovina," said S-For spokesman Dale MacEahern.

He did not say whether anyone had been detained in the operation, and gave no further details.

Mr Karadzic and former Bosnian Serb army commander Ratko Mladic are the two most wanted suspects of the international war crimes tribunal in The Hague.

Karadzic's support network has been targeted

They are accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for the persecution of non-Serbs.

S-For made several unsuccessful attempts to catch Mr Karadzic last year.

International officials in Bosnia stepped up efforts to find the two men earlier this year, introducing sanctions against individuals and companies suspected of assisting them.

Captain MacEahern said operations similar to Tuesday's would be repeated.

"S-For will conduct operations of this nature from time to time throughout Bosnia-Hercegovina, wherever and whenever it chooses," he said.