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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Srebrenica Muslim chief cleared | Srebrenica Muslim chief cleared |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The commander of Bosnian Muslim forces in Srebrenica, Naser Oric, has had his conviction for war crimes overturned by the UN tribunal in The Hague. | The commander of Bosnian Muslim forces in Srebrenica, Naser Oric, has had his conviction for war crimes overturned by the UN tribunal in The Hague. |
| He was convicted of failing to prevent men under his command killing and mistreating six Bosnian Serb prisoners. | He was convicted of failing to prevent men under his command killing and mistreating six Bosnian Serb prisoners. |
| His alleged crimes took place well before the 1995 Bosnian Serb massacre of nearly 8,000 Srebrenica Muslims. | His alleged crimes took place well before the 1995 Bosnian Serb massacre of nearly 8,000 Srebrenica Muslims. |
| Between 1992 and 1993 he commanded troops who allegedly destroyed 50 Serb villages, causing thousands to flee. | Between 1992 and 1993 he commanded troops who allegedly destroyed 50 Serb villages, causing thousands to flee. |
| But judges at The Hague ruled the first trial had failed to prove he had control over the men. | But judges at The Hague ruled the first trial had failed to prove he had control over the men. |
| Former bodyguard | Former bodyguard |
| "The appeals chamber [...] reverses Naser Oric's conviction," said Judge Wolfgang Schomburg of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. | "The appeals chamber [...] reverses Naser Oric's conviction," said Judge Wolfgang Schomburg of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. |
| The 41-year-old ex-bodyguard to former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic was convicted two years ago but given a two-year sentence - much less than that demanded by the prosecution. | The 41-year-old ex-bodyguard to former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic was convicted two years ago but given a two-year sentence - much less than that demanded by the prosecution. |
| He was ordered to be immediately release because of time he had already spent in custody. | He was ordered to be immediately release because of time he had already spent in custody. |
| Many Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks) regard him as a hero, and believe the decision to prosecute him was made to counter complaints by Serbs that the tribunal was biased against them, correspondents say. | Many Bosnian Muslims (Bosniaks) regard him as a hero, and believe the decision to prosecute him was made to counter complaints by Serbs that the tribunal was biased against them, correspondents say. |
| Mr Oric was commander of the Bosnian Muslim forces in the town of Srebrenica from May 1992 onwards, while the city was under siege from Bosnian Serb forces. | |
| Mr Oric's lawyers said the attacks on Serb villages were legitimate actions against military and strategic targets, or operations to obtain food for the starving population of Srebrenica. | |
| In 1995, thousands of Muslim men and boys from Srebrenica were killed by Bosnian Serb troops, despite the presence of Dutch UN peacekeepers. |