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Macedonia pair begin Hague trial Macedonia pair begin Hague trial
(about 2 hours later)
The first trial of men suspected of committing war crimes in Macedonia is due to begin at The Hague. The first trial of men suspected of committing war crimes in Macedonia has begun in The Hague.
Former Macedonian Interior Minister Ljube Boskovski and his ex-bodyguard Johan Tarculovski are accused of killing seven ethnic Albanians in 2001.Former Macedonian Interior Minister Ljube Boskovski and his ex-bodyguard Johan Tarculovski are accused of killing seven ethnic Albanians in 2001.
Mr Tarculovski ran a private security unit loyal to Mr Boskovski during a six-month ethnic Albanian rebellion.Mr Tarculovski ran a private security unit loyal to Mr Boskovski during a six-month ethnic Albanian rebellion.
Prosecutors say there were no military targets in the area where the attack took place. Both men deny the charges.Prosecutors say there were no military targets in the area where the attack took place. Both men deny the charges.
Child killed
Mr Boskovski, 46, who was the last man indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, was said to have effective command and control over the forces from his position as interior minister.Mr Boskovski, 46, who was the last man indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, was said to have effective command and control over the forces from his position as interior minister.
Mr Tarculovski, 32, is accused of directing the attack on the village of Ljuboten, the prosecution says.Mr Tarculovski, 32, is accused of directing the attack on the village of Ljuboten, the prosecution says.
A five-year-old was among those who died in Ljuboten, the court says.A five-year-old was among those who died in Ljuboten, the court says.
Prosecutor Dan Saxon made an opening statement on Monday accusing Mr Boskovski of the attacks which killed the Albanians.
According to charges presented by the court, the attack on Ljuboten was launched as a retaliation for an attack which killed eight Macedonian soldiers.According to charges presented by the court, the attack on Ljuboten was launched as a retaliation for an attack which killed eight Macedonian soldiers.
First but not last?First but not last?
During Macedonia's six-month insurgency in 2001 the country's nationalist government fought to suppress guerrillas from the country's ethnic Albanian militias. During a six-month insurgency in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in 2001 the country's nationalist government fought to suppress ethnic Albanian militias.
Mr Tarculovski and Mr Boskovski were the last two men to be indicted by the war crimes tribunal in The Hague over alleged atrocities committed in the former Yugoslavia.Mr Tarculovski and Mr Boskovski were the last two men to be indicted by the war crimes tribunal in The Hague over alleged atrocities committed in the former Yugoslavia.
The BBC's Geraldine Coughlan, in The Hague, says while they are the first to face charges over events in Macedonia, more could arrive before the tribunal winds down in 2010.The BBC's Geraldine Coughlan, in The Hague, says while they are the first to face charges over events in Macedonia, more could arrive before the tribunal winds down in 2010.