Three former members of the Kosovan Liberation Army have been arrested by EU police on suspicion of war crimes committed in 1999. Blerim Krasniqi, spokesman for the EU’s rule of law mission, told Reuters that two of the three men were members of the Kosovo Security Force, which receives training by Nato. "The suspects are charged with war crimes against the civilian population," said Krasniqi. Local reports suggest the men are being held over the murder of supporters of moderate politician Ibrahim Rugova, a few days after the end of the war.
Meeting the new Syrian coalition and its President in London today, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was encouraged, and welcomed their wish to be a "credible, political alternative to the Assad regime". In a statement, Hague said : "The formation of the coalition is a very encouraging development, and I'm further encouraged by the discussions I have had with them this morning. It is important of course, and I have stressed to them, that they respect minority rights, that they are inclusive of all communities in Syria, committed to a democratic future for the people of Syria." "And...
A court in The Hague has freed two Croatian generals, who were convicted of committing atrocities against Serbs in the 90s. General Ante Gotovina and General Mladen Markac were sentenced to 24 years and 18 years respectively last year, for crimes of murder, persecution and plunder. Their release was met by jubilations across Croatia, where the majority of people see both men as war heroes. "The verdict confirms everything that we believe in Croatia: that generals Gotovina and Markac are innocent," Croatian President Ivo Josipovic said. However, the Serbian government condemned the verdict...
A Swedish citizen of Rwandan origin has started his trial in Sweden, marking the country’s first trial for the crime of genocide. 54-year-old Stanislas Mbanenande trial for charges of genocide and violations of international law opened on Friday with the indictment alleging that he had an "informal role as a lower-level leader among young Hutus who sympathised with, or came to sympathise with, Hutu extremism". He is also alleged to have taken part in massacres, leading a Hutu militia in Kibuye, western Rwanda, in April 1994. Prosecutors described how civilians in a church and hotel were...
The French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, said that he will push for relaxation of an EU arms embargo, to allow the arming of Syrian rebels. France is the first Western country to recognise the Syrian opposition coalition as legitimate representatives of the Syrian people. "For the moment, there is an embargo, so there are no arms being delivered from the European side. The issue... will no doubt be raised for defensive arms," Mr Fabius said to France's RTL radio. "The issue will be raised because the [opposition] coalition has asked us to do so. "This is something that we can only do in...
Officials from five EU countries have agreed to a proposal for a training mission for Malian soldiers, who are fighting against rebels in the north of the country. Foreign and defence ministers from Germany, Italy, France, Poland and Spain met in Paris on Thursday and endorsed a decision made by the EU Foreign Affairs Council from October, which says that they are "determined to support Mali in restoring the rule of law and re-establishing a fully sovereign democratic government". The Malian army has been trying to regain territory captured by Tuareg and Islamist militants earlier this year...
A second day of Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza strip has been met by an intensified barrage of missiles and rockets fired at Tel-Aviv by Hamas and other militant groups. Reports suggest that Israel has bombarded targets in the Gaaza strip form the air and sea in an effort to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities. The Israeli authority has also authorised the call up of 30,000 soldiers in preparation for a possible ground invasion. Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, warned Hamas of further repercussions, stating , “I hope Hamas and the other terror organisations in Gaza got the message...
The French President, Francois Hollande, has become the first Western leader to recognise Syria's opposition coalition as the sole legitimate representative of the Syrian people. The US and the UK, whilst expressing their strong support, have not recognised it as a government in exile. See also: Arab League backs new Syrian opposition coalition (13 Nov 2012)
US military prosecutors are seeking the death sentence for a soldier who is thought to have massacred Afghan civilians. Sgt Robert Bales is accused of carrying out the attacks in March this year, killing 16 people, including nine children. Several soldiers testified, saying he returned to the base covered in blood. Sgt Bale is charged with murder, attempted murder, assault and using drugs and alcohol while deployed. Afghan witnesses testified via video link, including a seven year old girl who said she hid behind her father as he was shot and killed.
The most senior military commander of Hamas, Ahmed al-Jaabri, was been killed in an Israeli air strike amidst the escalating conflict. Israeli military sources described the airstrike as a result of “precise intelligence gathered over a period of months. Outlining the motive behind the attack, the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) stated that the operation was intended “to severely impair the command-and-control chain of the Hamas leadership, as well as its terrorist infrastructure.” A tweet from the Israeli military indicated that it was prepared to “initiate a ground operation in Gaza” if necessary.