( CNN ) -- Former Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader has been arrested in Salzburg , Austria , an Austrian Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said Friday . His arrest came after an international warrant was issued by Croatian prosecutors accusing him of abuse of position and power , according to Croatia 's Ministry of Interior . Sanader was arrested on a highway in Salzburg , said the spokeswoman , who works for the extradition division of Austria 's Justice Ministry and did not want to be named . Sanader will be extradited to Croatia , according to Croatian state-run HTV . Sanader faces allegations of corruption dating to his years as prime minister from 2003 to 2009 , according to prosecutors . A popular , conservative politician , Sanader was a leading member of the Christian Conservative HDZ party founded by Croatia 's first post-communist president , Franjo Tudman . Fellow party member Jerko Rosen said Sanader , who left the country on business , will return to Croatia immediately to fight the charges , RTL-Croatia reported . Rosen said he does not know Sanader 's whereabouts . Sanader , who has an international passport , has been stripped of any official immunity , RTL reported . He is listed on the Interpol site as a fugitive wanted on fraud and organized crime offenses . Secret U.S. diplomatic cables recently released by the WikiLeaks website allege that kickbacks were being investigated during Sanader 's term , and that there `` appears to be a new attitude toward allegedly corrupt party members that is strengthening the political will to fight corruption at all levels in the Croatian government and economy . '' `` For the past three years , the Croatian State Prosecutor 's Office for the Suppression of Organized Crime and Corruption ( USKOK ) has been ratcheting up its activity in corruption cases , '' the cable stated . It is not clear whether Sanader has hired an attorney to represent him .
NEW : Ivo Sanader was arrested in Salzburg , official says . Comment: A party member claims Sanader will return to Croatia to prove his innocence . Interpol and Croatian prosecutors accuse Sanader of fraud and corruption .