Serbia

Serbia probes ex policemen over crimes in Kosovo

Serbia probes ex policemen over crimes in Kosovo Belgrade  - Serbian officials launched an investigation against five former policemen suspected of war crimes during the 1998-99 Kosovo war.

The office of the war crimes prosecutor requested "an investigation against five former members of the special police unit suspected of committing war crimes against civilians and prisoners of war," a statement said.

The prosecution ordered their detention, the statement said, adding that "this is not an action against policemen who defended their country in 1999".

Serbian soldiers get 20 years in prison for Vukovar massacre

Serbian soldiers get 20 years in prison for Vukovar massacre Belgrade  - A Serbian war crimes court on Thursday sentenced 13 former reservists in the ex Yugoslav army to between five and 20 years in prison for their involvement in war crimes committed in Croatia in 1991. Five other defendents were acquitted.

Former commander of Vukovar's Territorial defense Miroljub Vujovic and six other reservists were sentenced to maximum 20 years in prison for their involvement in killing of some 200 Croatian civilians at the Ovcara farm near Vukovar, eastern Croatia in November 1991.

Political backdrop of Djindjic's killing remains murky

Political backdrop of Djindjic's killing remains murky Belgrade  - Although the killers of Serbian prime minister Zoran Djindjic have been convicted, the political motivation behind the assassination six years ago remains murky, the Belgrade daily Press said Thursday.

A pro-western reformist, Djindjic was killed on March 12, 2003 by a sniper in a conspiracy of rogue policemen and organized crime.

Spain remains opposed to Kosovo independence

Spain remains opposed to Kosovo independenceMadrid  - Spain remains opposed to the independence of Kosovo by "political conviction" and in line with international law, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Monday.

Zapatero spoke at a joint press conference with Serbian President Boris Tadic, who was on his first state visit to Spain.

Spain is one of the few countries not to have recognized the independence Kosovo declared in 2008, allegedly for fear that it could encourage separatist tendencies in Spanish regions.

Mladic holed up in a Belgrade apartment

Mladic holed up in a Belgrade apartment Belgrade  - Serbia's most wanted war crime suspect, Ratko Mladic, has been hiding in a Belgrade apartment for a number of years, the Press daily said Monday quoting police sources.

The newspaper said Mladic, a Serb general wanted by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on charges of genocide, maintains contact with only one person, who brings food and medication to the flat in a Belgrade suburb, the paper said.

Kosovo prime minister seeks reconciliation with Serbia

Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim ThaciPristina  - Kosovo's Prime Minister Hashim Thaci on Sunday expressed a wish for conciliation with Serbia, inviting Serbian President Boris Tadic to the former Serbia province.

Thaci made the invitation after a visit to Kosovo's Serb enclave of Caglavica, a suburb of the capital Pristina.

Communication between Pristina and Belgrade is "unavoidable" and is in the interests of Kosovo, said Thaci.

Pages