They showed up on an Internet site Tuesday and immediately became the hottest news in the former Yugoslav republic, where 32-year-old Vuckovic had previously been an icon of righteous and religious modesty.

"The pictures are my private property. They were taken two years ago and were stolen," said the singer.

"I appeal to those who have the pictures to return or destroy them so that they are not distributed further. Also, if they have any information about those who stole them, please tell the police," she said.

The www.index.hr site which first published the photos withdrew them Wednesday. Its editor Matija Babic said they were careful to choose shots that were not too revealing.