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Bosnia Serb jailed for war crimes Bosnia Serb jailed for war crimes
(20 minutes later)
A Bosnian Serb leader accused of being one of the architects of ethnic cleansing in the Bosnian war has been jailed for 27 years for war crimes.A Bosnian Serb leader accused of being one of the architects of ethnic cleansing in the Bosnian war has been jailed for 27 years for war crimes.
But the UN international tribunal in The Hague acquitted Momcilo Krajisnik of genocide, the most serious charge.But the UN international tribunal in The Hague acquitted Momcilo Krajisnik of genocide, the most serious charge.
Krajisnik is a former speaker of the Bosnian Serb parliament and was a close aide to ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, who is still on the run.Krajisnik is a former speaker of the Bosnian Serb parliament and was a close aide to ex-Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, who is still on the run.
The court said there was "insufficient evidence" to prove genocide charges.The court said there was "insufficient evidence" to prove genocide charges.
Krajisnik is the most senior political figure from any of the conflicts in the former Yugoslav republics to have been found guilty by The Hague tribunal, the BBC's South-East Europe analyst Gabriel Partos says. Krajisnik, 61, is the most senior political figure from any of the conflicts in the former Yugoslav republics to have been found guilty by The Hague tribunal, the BBC's South-East Europe analyst Gabriel Partos says.
The judge said Krajisnik was part of a joint criminal enterprise which carried out the extermination, murder, persecution and deportation of non-Serbs during the Bosnian war between 1992 and 1995.The judge said Krajisnik was part of a joint criminal enterprise which carried out the extermination, murder, persecution and deportation of non-Serbs during the Bosnian war between 1992 and 1995.
Mr Krajisnik... accepted that a heavy price of suffering, death and destruction was necessary to achieve Serb domination Judge Alphons OrieMr Krajisnik... accepted that a heavy price of suffering, death and destruction was necessary to achieve Serb domination Judge Alphons Orie
Krajisnik's role in the commission of the crimes was crucial, Judge Alphons Orie said.Krajisnik's role in the commission of the crimes was crucial, Judge Alphons Orie said.
"His positions within the Bosnian Serb leadership gave him the authority to facilitate the military, police and paramilitary groups to implement the objective of the joint criminal enterprise," he said."His positions within the Bosnian Serb leadership gave him the authority to facilitate the military, police and paramilitary groups to implement the objective of the joint criminal enterprise," he said.
"Mr Krajisnik... accepted that a heavy price of suffering, death and destruction was necessary to achieve Serb domination.""Mr Krajisnik... accepted that a heavy price of suffering, death and destruction was necessary to achieve Serb domination."
Krajisnik was acquitted of genocide or complicity in genocide on the grounds that the court had found no evidence of a genocidal intent on his part to destroy in full or part ethnic or religious communities.Krajisnik was acquitted of genocide or complicity in genocide on the grounds that the court had found no evidence of a genocidal intent on his part to destroy in full or part ethnic or religious communities.
That is likely to disappoint many Bosnian Muslims who believe their community was the victim of genocide during the war, our analyst says.That is likely to disappoint many Bosnian Muslims who believe their community was the victim of genocide during the war, our analyst says.
'Very powerful''Very powerful'
Prosecutors had called for a life sentence.Prosecutors had called for a life sentence.
The court heard that Krajisnik helped arm Bosnian Serb civilians so that they could kill non-Serbs and drive them from large areas of Bosnia-Hercegovina.The court heard that Krajisnik helped arm Bosnian Serb civilians so that they could kill non-Serbs and drive them from large areas of Bosnia-Hercegovina.
Krajisnik said he knew nothing of the war crimes. But former Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Biljana Plavsic testified that he was "very powerful" and at times he had even "dominated" the overall leader, Radovan Karadzic.Krajisnik said he knew nothing of the war crimes. But former Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Biljana Plavsic testified that he was "very powerful" and at times he had even "dominated" the overall leader, Radovan Karadzic.
Momcilo Krajisnik is the highest-ranking Bosnian Serb politician so far to be tried for war crimes Profile: Momcilo Krajisnik Momcilo Krajisnik is the highest-ranking Bosnian Serb politician so far to be tried for war crimes Profile: Momcilo Krajisnik
Krajisnik testified for weeks in his own defence during the trial, claiming he was a peacemaker and that he was unaware of any crimes.Krajisnik testified for weeks in his own defence during the trial, claiming he was a peacemaker and that he was unaware of any crimes.
So far, the UN court in the Hague has handed down only two genocide convictions, both for Bosnian Serb officers who helped to organise the Srebrenica massacre of nearly 8,000 Muslim men and boys.So far, the UN court in the Hague has handed down only two genocide convictions, both for Bosnian Serb officers who helped to organise the Srebrenica massacre of nearly 8,000 Muslim men and boys.
One was to a former general, Radislav Krstic, in 2001, and the other to former army commander Vidoje Blagojevic, who was found guilty of "complicity in genocide" in 2005.One was to a former general, Radislav Krstic, in 2001, and the other to former army commander Vidoje Blagojevic, who was found guilty of "complicity in genocide" in 2005.
'Mr No''Mr No'
Krajisnik was detained in 2000 in Pale, just outside Sarajevo, when French Nato troops blasted off the door to his home with explosives.Krajisnik was detained in 2000 in Pale, just outside Sarajevo, when French Nato troops blasted off the door to his home with explosives.
He co-founded the Serb nationalist party in Bosnia with Mr Karadzic.He co-founded the Serb nationalist party in Bosnia with Mr Karadzic.
He led the Bosnian Serb parliament during the war, in which about 110,000 died.He led the Bosnian Serb parliament during the war, in which about 110,000 died.
He was later one of the negotiators of the Dayton peace accords, when he earned the nickname "Mr No" for his uncompromising stance during negotiations.He was later one of the negotiators of the Dayton peace accords, when he earned the nickname "Mr No" for his uncompromising stance during negotiations.
The UN tribunal in The Hague is aiming to begin winding down operations from 2008 with the final trials of those accused of war crimes in the Bosnian war to begin that year.The UN tribunal in The Hague is aiming to begin winding down operations from 2008 with the final trials of those accused of war crimes in the Bosnian war to begin that year.