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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Croats in Hague war crimes trial | Croats in Hague war crimes trial |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three Croatian former generals have gone on trial at the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague in one of its most high-profile cases. | Three Croatian former generals have gone on trial at the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague in one of its most high-profile cases. |
| Ante Gotovina, Ivan Cermak and Mladen Markac are charged with committing atrocities against Croatian Serbs during the 1990s Balkan wars. | Ante Gotovina, Ivan Cermak and Mladen Markac are charged with committing atrocities against Croatian Serbs during the 1990s Balkan wars. |
| Mr Gotovina's capture in 2005 led to protests in Croatia, where many still regard him as a war hero. | Mr Gotovina's capture in 2005 led to protests in Croatia, where many still regard him as a war hero. |
| The three men deny the charges. The case is due to last more than a year. | The three men deny the charges. The case is due to last more than a year. |
| 'Scarred wasteland' | |
| Ante Gotovina, Ivan Cermak and Mladen Markac are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. | Ante Gotovina, Ivan Cermak and Mladen Markac are accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity. |
| This trial arises from the forcible elimination of Krajina Serbs from Croatia and the destruction of their communities Alan Tieger, UN prosecutor | |
| They are alleged to have played key roles in Operation Storm - the three-month offensive that took place in Croatia's eastern Krajina region in 1995. | |
| The indictment, dating from 2001, says they planned the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from their self-declared republic. | The indictment, dating from 2001, says they planned the ethnic cleansing of Serbs from their self-declared republic. |
| "This trial arises from the forcible elimination of Krajina Serbs from Croatia and the destruction of their communities in August 1995 and the roles and responsibilities of the generals in that process," prosecutor Alan Tieger said in his opening statement. | |
| "The Serb community was a scarred wasteland of destroyed villages and homes. | |
| "The case is about three men who were instrumental in those crimes," Mr Tieger said. | |
| Mr Gotovina, a former French Foreign Legionnaire, is charged with responsibility for the alleged murder of about 150 Serbs, persecution, and the deportation of thousands. | |
| About 200,000 Serbs - many elderly - were forced out of the region during the offensive. | About 200,000 Serbs - many elderly - were forced out of the region during the offensive. |
| 'Trial of the century' | |
| All three accused - who had pleaded not guilty to the charges - sat side-by-side in court as Mr Tieger was outlining the prosecution case. | |
| ANTE GOTOVINA Born 12 Oct 1955Fought in French Foreign LegionCommanded Croatian forces against Serb troops in Krajina region, 1995Early retirement, 2000Indicted for war crimes in Krajina, 2001Arrested in Tenerife, Dec 2005 Profile: Ante Gotovina | |
| Mr Gotovina is one of the most high-profile suspects to go on trial at the UN tribunal, the BBC's Helen Fawkes says. | Mr Gotovina is one of the most high-profile suspects to go on trial at the UN tribunal, the BBC's Helen Fawkes says. |
| He spent four years on the run before being arrested at a hotel in Spain's Canary Islands in 2005. | He spent four years on the run before being arrested at a hotel in Spain's Canary Islands in 2005. |
| She says the first couple of days of what is being dubbed the trial of the century in Zagreb will be shown live on Croatia's national television. | She says the first couple of days of what is being dubbed the trial of the century in Zagreb will be shown live on Croatia's national television. |
| Mr Gotovina's lawyer says his client ended the wars in Bosnia and Croatia and fought against former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic. | Mr Gotovina's lawyer says his client ended the wars in Bosnia and Croatia and fought against former Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic. |
| The lawyer says that for this Mr Gotovina deserves praise, not a war crimes indictment. | The lawyer says that for this Mr Gotovina deserves praise, not a war crimes indictment. |
| More than 130 witnesses are expected to be called during the trial. | More than 130 witnesses are expected to be called during the trial. |
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