U-N tribunal takes custody of senior Bosnian Serb officer accused of genocide
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands A former senior Bosnian Serb commander accused of genocide is now in the custody of the U-N war crimes tribunal. The officer (Ljubisa Beara) was a colonel and the security chief for the Bosnian Serb army's main staff. He is one of the most senior officers to fall into the court's hands in recent years.
Tribunal officials say he was arrested in Serbia yesterday. But the Belgrade government says he surrendered "to protect the interests of the state."
The Serb is accused of taking part in the 1995 mass killing of Muslims in Srebrenica (SREH'-breh-neet-sah). He faces life in prison if convicted.
Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
|
