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Vukovar officers appeal at Hague Vukovar sentence ruled inadequate
(40 minutes later)
A UN war crimes tribunal is ruling on an appeal by two former Yugoslav army officers jailed for their role in a 1991 massacre in Vukovar, Croatia. A UN war crimes appeals chamber has ruled that a jail term passed on an ex-Yugoslav army officer for crimes at Vukovar in 1991 was inadequate.
Mile Mrksic, the commander of a brigade in the Croatian city, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for murder and torture at the Hague tribunal in 2007. Veselin Sljivancanin was jailed for five years for the crime of torture and was released in December 2007 after four years in custody.
Veselin Sljivancanin, his subordinate, was jailed for five years for torture. He had returned to The Hague on Monday to hear the court ruling.
The chamber upheld a sentence of 20 years for murder and torture against Sljivancanin's superior, Mile Mrksic.
Judges found the army had allowed Serb paramilitaries to kill prisoners of war sheltering at a hospital in Vukovar.Judges found the army had allowed Serb paramilitaries to kill prisoners of war sheltering at a hospital in Vukovar.
The verdict provoked outrage from Croatia, which said the sentences were too light and that charges of crimes against humanity were wrongly dismissed on the basis that the dead had not been civilians. The original verdict provoked outrage from Croatia, which said the sentences were too light and that charges of crimes against humanity were wrongly dismissed on the basis that the dead had not been civilians.
It also disputed the acquittal of a third defendant, Miroslav Radic.It also disputed the acquittal of a third defendant, Miroslav Radic.
Mass gravesMass graves
On Tuesday, judges at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) began giving their verdicts both on the appeals by Mrksic and Sljivancanin against their convictions and on appeals against their sentences by prosecutors, who want heavier jail terms.
Both Mrksic (left) and Sljivancanin deny they are guilty of any war crimes
At the original trial, prosecutors said the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) had besieged Vukovar from August to November 1991, during which time some 1,000 of the city's residents were killed and another 5,000 taken prisoner.At the original trial, prosecutors said the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) had besieged Vukovar from August to November 1991, during which time some 1,000 of the city's residents were killed and another 5,000 taken prisoner.
Both Mrksic (left) and Sljivancanin deny they are guilty of any war crimes
In the last days of the siege, several hundred people sought refuge at the city's hospital, hoping to be evacuated in the presence of international observers.In the last days of the siege, several hundred people sought refuge at the city's hospital, hoping to be evacuated in the presence of international observers.
But on 20 November 1991, JNA soldiers stopped guarding the prisoners, allowing Serb Territorial Defence and paramilitary forces to load about 400 on to buses and take them to a farm in nearby Ovcara where at least 194 were beaten and later killed.But on 20 November 1991, JNA soldiers stopped guarding the prisoners, allowing Serb Territorial Defence and paramilitary forces to load about 400 on to buses and take them to a farm in nearby Ovcara where at least 194 were beaten and later killed.
After the killings, the bodies of the victims were buried by bulldozer in a mass grave at the same location.After the killings, the bodies of the victims were buried by bulldozer in a mass grave at the same location.
Mrksic was found guilty of aiding and abetting the murders as he had ordered the withdrawal of the JNA soldiers guarding the prisoners.Mrksic was found guilty of aiding and abetting the murders as he had ordered the withdrawal of the JNA soldiers guarding the prisoners.
The JNA forces had earlier established inhumane conditions of detention and Mrksic had also failed to act effectively to ensure that the prisoners were properly protected or treated, the court found.The JNA forces had earlier established inhumane conditions of detention and Mrksic had also failed to act effectively to ensure that the prisoners were properly protected or treated, the court found.
Sljivancanin was found guilty of aiding and abetting torture because he had failed to secure adequate JNA guards at Ovcara and ensure that soldiers under his command acted to prevent the Serb forces from beating the prisoners, the ICTY judges said.Sljivancanin was found guilty of aiding and abetting torture because he had failed to secure adequate JNA guards at Ovcara and ensure that soldiers under his command acted to prevent the Serb forces from beating the prisoners, the ICTY judges said.
The former major was released in December 2007 after four years in custody and allowed to await the outcome of his appeal in Serbia. He returned to The Hague on Monday for the ruling.