This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-42080090

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Ratko Mladic jailed for life over Bosnia war genocide Ratko Mladic jailed for life over Bosnia war genocide
(about 2 hours later)
Former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic has been jailed for life for genocide and other atrocities in the 1990s Bosnian war.Former Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic has been jailed for life for genocide and other atrocities in the 1990s Bosnian war.
Known as the "Butcher of Bosnia", Mladic led forces during the massacre of Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks) in Srebrenica and the siege of Sarajevo.Known as the "Butcher of Bosnia", Mladic led forces during the massacre of Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks) in Srebrenica and the siege of Sarajevo.
The UN tribunal in The Hague convicted him on 10 of the 11 charges.The UN tribunal in The Hague convicted him on 10 of the 11 charges.
Mladic, 74, was not in court when the sentence was read out. He had been removed for shouting at the judges.Mladic, 74, was not in court when the sentence was read out. He had been removed for shouting at the judges.
They had rejected a request by his team to halt proceedings because of Mladic's high blood pressure. At the start of the session, he appeared relaxed, smiling and gesturing to the cameras. "It's a lie. Everything you said in this courtroom is a lie," he said.
The outburst came after the judges rejected a request by his team to halt the proceedings because of Mladic's high blood pressure.
Mladic has denied all the charges and his lawyer said he would appeal.Mladic has denied all the charges and his lawyer said he would appeal.
What were the crimes?What were the crimes?
Mladic was the military commander of Bosnian Serb forces against Bosnian Croat and Bosniak armies. He had been on trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) since 2012.Mladic was the military commander of Bosnian Serb forces against Bosnian Croat and Bosniak armies. He had been on trial at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) since 2012.
It found that Mladic "significantly contributed" to the genocide in Srebrenica in 1995, where more than 7,000 Bosniak men and boys were murdered, the worst atrocity in Europe since World War Two.It found that Mladic "significantly contributed" to the genocide in Srebrenica in 1995, where more than 7,000 Bosniak men and boys were murdered, the worst atrocity in Europe since World War Two.
He was cleared of a second count of genocide in other municipalities. The other charges included war crimes and crimes against humanity.He was cleared of a second count of genocide in other municipalities. The other charges included war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Presiding judge Alphons Orie read out many crimes committed by troops under Mladic's command, including:Presiding judge Alphons Orie read out many crimes committed by troops under Mladic's command, including:
How was Gen Mladic brought to trial?
At the end of the war in 1995 Mladic went into hiding and lived in obscurity in Serbia, protected by family and elements of the security forces.At the end of the war in 1995 Mladic went into hiding and lived in obscurity in Serbia, protected by family and elements of the security forces.
He was finally tracked down and arrested at a cousin's house in rural northern Serbia in 2011 after 16 years on the run.He was finally tracked down and arrested at a cousin's house in rural northern Serbia in 2011 after 16 years on the run.
Mladic's days in the Scheveningen prison in The Hague have been taken up with playing chess, reading history books, watching TV and exercise.
His usual chess rival is former Bosnian Serb President Radovan Karadzic, who was also convicted of genocide and war crimes in the Bosnian war in 2016.
What has the reaction been?What has the reaction been?
Victims and their relatives watched the verdict in a memorial centre near Srebrenica, and erupted in cheers as it was read out.Victims and their relatives watched the verdict in a memorial centre near Srebrenica, and erupted in cheers as it was read out.
The group Mothers of Srebrenica said it was partially satisfied, and some relatives said Mladic deserved a harsher sentence.The group Mothers of Srebrenica said it was partially satisfied, and some relatives said Mladic deserved a harsher sentence.
In The Hague, the man whose skeletal image on the front cover of Time magazine had shocked the world - Fikret Alic - was smiling, tucking into a cheese sandwich.
He told the BBC he hoped Mladic's behaviour would mean the Serb general would go down in history as a coward who was not brave enough to face up to his own crimes.
Chief prosecutor Serge Brammertz said the verdict was not a judgement on the Serbian people and that Mladic's guilt was his alone.
UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein called Mladic the "epitome of evil" and said his prosecution was "the epitome of what international justice is all about".UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein called Mladic the "epitome of evil" and said his prosecution was "the epitome of what international justice is all about".
Rights group Amnesty International said the sentence was a "landmark moment for justice".
What happened at Srebrenica?What happened at Srebrenica?
In early July 1995, Bosnian Serb forces besieged an area near the town of Srebrenica. It had been designated a United Nations "safe zone" and was being guarded by 600 lightly-armed Dutch UN soldiers. In early July 1995, Bosnian Serb forces besieged an area near the town of Srebrenica. It had been designated a United Nations "safe zone" and was being guarded by 600 lightly armed Dutch UN soldiers.
The Serbs attacked from the south, prompting thousands of Bosniak civilians and fighters to flee north to Srebrenica. As the Serb advance continued, refugees fled north to the main Dutch base in Potocari.The Serbs attacked from the south, prompting thousands of Bosniak civilians and fighters to flee north to Srebrenica. As the Serb advance continued, refugees fled north to the main Dutch base in Potocari.
Gen Mladic summoned the Dutch commander, Col Thom Karremans, and demanded that the Bosniaks disarm to save their lives.Gen Mladic summoned the Dutch commander, Col Thom Karremans, and demanded that the Bosniaks disarm to save their lives.
On 12 July, some 15,000 Bosniak men of military age broke out of the enclave. They were shelled as they fled through the mountains. Some were also killed after surrendering.On 12 July, some 15,000 Bosniak men of military age broke out of the enclave. They were shelled as they fled through the mountains. Some were also killed after surrendering.
Buses then deported an estimated 23,000 women and children to Bosniak territory, while the Serbs separated out all males from age 12 to 77 for "interrogation for suspected war crimes". Buses then deported an estimated 23,000 women and children to Bosniak territory, while the Serbs separated out all males from age 12 to 77.
On 13 July the first killings of unarmed Bosniaks took place in a warehouse in the nearby village of Kravica. On 13 July the first killings of unarmed Bosniaks took place in the nearby village of Kravica. Over four days, up to 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were murdered by Bosnian Serbs at sites around Srebrenica.
Over four days, up to 8,000 Bosniak men and boys were murdered by Bosnian Serbs at sites around Srebrenica.
What was the siege of Sarajevo?What was the siege of Sarajevo?
Civilians in the Bosnian capital endured a brutal siege in 1992-1995 at the hands of Bosnian Serb forces, who fired down into the city from the surrounding hills. The death toll was more than 10,000. Civilians in the Bosnian capital endured a brutal siege during 1992-1995 at the hands of Bosnian Serb forces, who fired down into the city from the surrounding hills. The death toll was more than 10,000.
It was part of what prosecutors call a Serb "criminal enterprise" to spread terror among Bosniaks and Croats, and to drive them from areas claimed as Serb territory.It was part of what prosecutors call a Serb "criminal enterprise" to spread terror among Bosniaks and Croats, and to drive them from areas claimed as Serb territory.