Icetruck.tv News Blog
World

The Latest: Supporters of Mladic praise their ‘hero’

WireAP_0aa3ba4d462d42f3aa2835f357e83429_12x5_992

The Latest: Supporters of Mladic praise their 'hero'

The Associated Press
FILE – A May 29, 2011 file photo shows Bosnian Serb protesters holding posters depicting former Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic, during a protest in Mladic's hometown of Kalinovik, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Ratko Mladic will learn his fate on Nov. 22, 2017, when U.N. judges deliver verdicts in his genocide and war crimes trial. (AP Photo/Amel Emric, File)

    The Latest on the judgment on former Bosnian Serb military chief Gen. Ratko Mladic (all times local):

    11:15 a.m.

    Supporters of Ratko Mladic have put up posters in Bosnia praising the former Bosnian Serb military chief.

    Posters in the eastern Bosnian town of Bratunac carried a photo of Mladic in military attire with the words "you are our hero" written above.

    Some former soldiers who fought under Mladic came together to watch the pronouncement of the U.N. war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia on whether he is guilty of genocide and other crimes during Bosnia's 1992-95 war.

    At the same time, survivors of the 1995 massacre in the eastern town of Srebrenica gathered at the memorial center to also watch the live TV broadcast from the courtroom of The Hague-based U.N. war crimes tribunal for former Yugoslavia.

    Mladic insists he is innocent.

    ———

    10:55 a.m.

    The U.N. war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has confirmed that genocide occurred in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, but has yet to rule on whether Bosnian Serb military chief Gen. Ratko Mladic was responsible.

    Presiding Judge Alphons Orie said the court found that "genocide, persecution, extermination, murder and the inhuman act of forcible transfer were committed in or around Srebrenica" in 1995.

    Previous judgments have that the massacre of some 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica was genocide.

    The court said Wednesday however it is "not convinced" of genocidal intent in six other municipalities, in line with previous judgments.

    The court will rule later on whether Mladic is guilty of genocide and other crimes during Bosnia's 1992-95 war.

    He insists he is innocent.

    ———

    10:20 a.m.

    A skirmish broke out outside the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal after a young man carrying a Serbian flag approached a group of Bosniaks awaiting the verdict in a trial of former Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic.

    A Bosniak woman tried to take the Serbian flag from the man.

    The scuffle ended when a security officer intervened.

    The man, who said he came to support Mladic, shouted: "Do not touch my flag."

    The Bosnian woman told him to stop provoking victims, adding that it "is sad that the villains still glorify genocide and aggression."

    The incident reflects the divisions between the Serbs and Bosniaks over Mladic's trial on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

    ———

    10:15 a.m.

    United Nations judges have opened a hearing to deliver their judgment in the genocide trial of former Bosnian Serb military chief Gen. Ratko Mladic.

    Mladic looked relaxed in the courtroom of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, greeting lawyers and giving a thumbs-up to photographers in court.

    Presiding Judge Alphons Orie, wearing a red and black robe, opened the hearing by greeting lawyers and then giving a background of when Mladic was indicted, when he was captured, details of the trial and detailing the charges against Mladic.

    Mladic is set to hear verdicts on 11 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for allegedly masterminding atrocities by Serb forces during Bosnia's 1992-95 war. He insists he is innocent.

    ———

    10.05 a.m.

    Lawyers for former Bosnian Serb military chief Gen. Ratko Mladic say that he will appear in a United Nations war crimes tribunal for the judgment in his long-running genocide trial despite health concerns.

    In a filing to judges Wednesday shortly before the hearing was due to start at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Mladic's lawyer say that he "insists on appearing" despite his ailing health. Mladic has been insistent on his innocence.

    Mladic is set to hear verdicts on 11 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes for allegedly masterminding atrocities by Serb forces during Bosnia's 1992-95 war.

    ———

    9:50 a.m.

    The son of former Bosnian Serb military chief Gen. Ratko Mladic says his family is ready for anything as the U.N. Yugoslav war crimes tribunal prepares to rule on whether his father committed genocide and other crimes during the Bosnian war.

    Darko Mladic accused the court of "not being objective, and that makes us concerned."

    Speaking outside the courthouse in The Hague, Darko Mladic said the prosecution "didn't manage to connect Ratko Mladic with any point of the indictment" and that the family is ready for whatever judgment.

    Ratko Mladic's lawyer, Dragan Ivetic, said the general faces a "risk of deterioration of his health, including death, that could be caused by these proceedings."

    Mladic stands accused of commanding forces responsible for crimes including the worst atrocities of the 1992-95 war.

    ———

    8:20 a.m.

    The United Nations' Yugoslav war crimes tribunal is set to pass judgment on former Bosnian Serb military chief Gen. Ratko Mladic, who is accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes during Bosnia's devastating 1992-95 war.

    Mladic, who faces 11 counts, stands accused of commanding forces responsible for crimes including the worst atrocities of the war — the deadly three-year siege of the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, and the 1995 massacre of some 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the eastern enclave of Srebrenica, which was Europe's worst mass killing since World War II.

    The three judge panel will rule Wednesday on whether the 75-year-old former general is guilty or innocent and, if they convict Mladic, they will immediately pass sentence.

    Prosecutors have sought a life sentence.

    • Star

    Add Interests Customize your news feed by choosing the topics that interest you.

    To save your interests across all devices Log In or Sign Up &raquo
    Source – abcnews.go.com

    Leave a Comment