LOC16:30
13:30 GMT
BRUSSELS, Nov 22 (KUNA) -- The International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY), at The Hague today convicted Ratko Mladic, former Commander of the Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) of genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the laws or customs of war.
These crimes were committed by Serb forces during the armed conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) from 1992 until 1995. Ratko Mladic was sentenced to life imprisonment, the Tribunal said in a press release.
Mladic was convicted of genocide and persecution, extermination, murder, and the inhumane act of forcible transfer in the area of Srebrenica in 1995; of persecution, extermination, murder, deportation and inhumane act of forcible transfer in municipalities throughout BiH; of murder, terror and unlawful attacks on civilians in Sarajevo and of hostage-taking of UN personnel.
The judges established that Bosnian Serb Forces killed many Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats, while numerous others were forcibly displaced from their homes, during and after the take-over of the Municipalities or following attacks on non-Serb villages.
"Circumstances were brutal; those who tried to defend their homes were met with ruthless force. Mass executions occurred and some victims succumbed after being beaten.
"Many of the perpetrators who had captured Bosnian Muslims, showed little or no respect for human life or dignity", said the Presiding Judge Alphons Orie. (end)
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