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Hague war court acquits Croat Generals Gotovina and Markac | Hague war court acquits Croat Generals Gotovina and Markac |
(35 minutes later) | |
A war crimes court in The Hague has overturned the convictions of two Croatian generals charged with atrocities against Serbs in the 1990s. | A war crimes court in The Hague has overturned the convictions of two Croatian generals charged with atrocities against Serbs in the 1990s. |
Appeals judges at tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ordered the release of Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac. | Appeals judges at tribunal for the former Yugoslavia ordered the release of Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac. |
In 2011 they were sentenced to 24 years and 18 years respectively over the killing of ethnic Serbs in an offensive to retake Croatia's Krajina region. | In 2011 they were sentenced to 24 years and 18 years respectively over the killing of ethnic Serbs in an offensive to retake Croatia's Krajina region. |
Thousands of people in Croatia's capital Zagreb cheered Friday's ruling. | Thousands of people in Croatia's capital Zagreb cheered Friday's ruling. |
In Serbia, Deputy Prime Minister Rasim Ljajic condemned the verdict, saying the tribunal had "lost all its credibility", Serbia's Beta news agency reported. | |
'Final judgement' | 'Final judgement' |
On Friday, presiding Judge Theodor Meron said that court had entered "a verdict of acquittal" for Gen Gotovina and Gen Markac, both aged 57. | |
The two men were last year convicted of murder, persecution and plunder. | |
Judges at the time ruled that they were part of a criminal conspiracy led by late Croatian President Franjo Tudjman to "permanently and forcibly remove" the Serb civilian population from Krajina. | |
But on Friday, Judge Meron said there had been no such conspiracy. | But on Friday, Judge Meron said there had been no such conspiracy. |
The appeals judges also said the 2011 trial chamber "erred in finding that artillery attacks" ordered by Gen Gotovina and Gen Markac on Krajina towns "were unlawful". | |
The two former generals have always argued that they did not deliberately attacked civilians. | |
Court officials also said prosecutors would not appeal against the ruling, describing it as "the final judgement". | Court officials also said prosecutors would not appeal against the ruling, describing it as "the final judgement". |
Neither defendant showed emotion in court, but their supporters in the gallery hugged each other and clapped after the verdict. | Neither defendant showed emotion in court, but their supporters in the gallery hugged each other and clapped after the verdict. |
In Zagreb's main square, thousands of people - who watched the proceedings live on giant TV - burst into applause. | In Zagreb's main square, thousands of people - who watched the proceedings live on giant TV - burst into applause. |
"Our general are heroes because they risked their lives to save our country and liberate the people," student Andjela Anic, 26, was quoted as saying by the AFP. | "Our general are heroes because they risked their lives to save our country and liberate the people," student Andjela Anic, 26, was quoted as saying by the AFP. |
On Thursday, candle-lit vigils were held in Zagreb and Catholic churches around the country as war veterans and bishops asked supporters to "raise their voices against injustice". | On Thursday, candle-lit vigils were held in Zagreb and Catholic churches around the country as war veterans and bishops asked supporters to "raise their voices against injustice". |
Gen Gotovina and Gen Markac were last year convicted over the Croatian offensive in Krajina, which had been under Serbian control since the start of the war in 1991. | |
About 200,000 ethnic Serbs were driven from Croatia in 1995 and at least 150 were killed in a military offensive in Krajina known as Operation Storm. | About 200,000 ethnic Serbs were driven from Croatia in 1995 and at least 150 were killed in a military offensive in Krajina known as Operation Storm. |
The operation to retake the region was ordered by Mr Tudjman. The Croatian leader died in 1999 while being under investigation by The Hague tribunal. | |
The aftermath of the war is a key issue both in Croatia's domestic politics and its external relations. | The aftermath of the war is a key issue both in Croatia's domestic politics and its external relations. |
The European Union has made it clear to former Yugoslav republics that they will not be considered for membership until war criminals are brought to justice. | The European Union has made it clear to former Yugoslav republics that they will not be considered for membership until war criminals are brought to justice. |