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Karadzic genocide charge reinstated | Karadzic genocide charge reinstated |
(35 minutes later) | |
A genocide charge against former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic has been reinstated at the UN Yugoslav war crimes tribunal in The Hague. | |
The count of genocide relates to a campaign of killing and mistreating non-Serbs in seven municipalities at the start of the Bosnian war in 1992. | The count of genocide relates to a campaign of killing and mistreating non-Serbs in seven municipalities at the start of the Bosnian war in 1992. |
The ruling means he now faces 11 charges, including a further charge of genocide for the Srebrenica massacre. | |
More than 7,500 Muslim men and boys died in the enclave in July 1995. | More than 7,500 Muslim men and boys died in the enclave in July 1995. |
It was the worst atrocity in Europe since the end of World War II. | It was the worst atrocity in Europe since the end of World War II. |
The tribunal's decision was passed as thousands of people gathered in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica for the burial of more than 400 newly-identified victims of the 1995 massacre. | |
'Genocidal intent' | |
Prior to Thursday's ruling, Mr Karadzic had been on trial for 10 charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. | Prior to Thursday's ruling, Mr Karadzic had been on trial for 10 charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. |
They include allegations that he orchestrated the shelling of Sarajevo, and the use of 284 UN peacekeepers as human shields in May and June 1995. | They include allegations that he orchestrated the shelling of Sarajevo, and the use of 284 UN peacekeepers as human shields in May and June 1995. |
The additional charge of genocide had been brought against him over a campaign to drive hundreds of thousands of Bosnian Muslims (also known as Bosniaks) and Croats out of large parts of Bosnia at the start of the three-year war. | |
It was dismissed by judges in June last year for lack of evidence. | It was dismissed by judges in June last year for lack of evidence. |
But appeals judges now believe evidence presented by the prosecution "could indicate that Karadzic possessed genocidal intent" against Muslims and Croats, Judge Theodor Meron said on Thursday. | But appeals judges now believe evidence presented by the prosecution "could indicate that Karadzic possessed genocidal intent" against Muslims and Croats, Judge Theodor Meron said on Thursday. |
The former Bosnian Serb leader was arrested in Belgrade in 2008 after 13 years on the run. | The former Bosnian Serb leader was arrested in Belgrade in 2008 after 13 years on the run. |
He had been found living in disguise in Belgrade, under a false name and working as a New Age healer. A bushy grey beard and thick glasses had transformed his appearance. | He had been found living in disguise in Belgrade, under a false name and working as a New Age healer. A bushy grey beard and thick glasses had transformed his appearance. |
When Bosnia-Hercegovina became in independent state in 1992, Mr Karadzic declared the creation of the independent Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Hercegovina (renamed Republika Srpska) with its capital in Pale, a suburb of Sarajevo, and himself as head of state. | |
His party, supported by Serbian then-President Slobodan Milosevic, organised Serbs to fight against the Bosniaks and Croats in Bosnia. | |
A vicious war ensued, in which Serbs besieged Sarajevo for 44 months, shelling Muslim forces but also terrorising the civilian population with a relentless bombardment and sniper fire. Thousands of civilians died, many of them deliberately targeted. | |
Bosnian Serb forces - assisted by paramilitaries from Serbia proper - also expelled hundreds of thousands of Muslims and Croats from their homes in a brutal campaign of "ethnic cleansing". Numerous atrocities were documented, including the widespread rape of Bosniak women and girls. |