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Del Ponte prepares to exit Hague Del Ponte leaves 'disappointed'
(about 7 hours later)
The outgoing chief prosecutor at the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague, Carla del Ponte, is to give her final press conference. The outgoing chief prosecutor at the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague says she is disappointed that some fugitives are still at large.
The fact that Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic had not been arrested was a "stain" on the tribunal's "great achievements", she said.
Ms del Ponte was speaking in The Hague at her final press conference as head of the tribunal.
She is due to be replaced next year by Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz.She is due to be replaced next year by Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz.
He is heading the investigation into the 2005 killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.He is heading the investigation into the 2005 killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Ms del Ponte says the tribunal - set up to try war crimes from the former Yugoslavia - should stay open until its four final fugitives were caught. 'Justice undermined'
The fact that its two top fugitives were still at large undermined the idea of international justice, she added. "The fact that Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic are still at large is a stain on our work - a stain on all these great achievements. And as you know, I am very disappointed by this," she told reporters.
Ms del Ponte is to become the Swiss ambassador to Argentina. SUSPECTS STILL AT LARGE Radovan KaradzicRatko MladicStojan ZupljaninGoran Hadzic class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7137210.stm">Leaving proud but frustrated class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/1809185.stm">Profile: Carla del Ponte Ms del Ponte also repeated her plea that the tribunal - set up to try war crimes from the former Yugoslavia - should stay open until its four final fugitives were caught.
Serbia ultimatum It is due to close in 2010.
Ms del Ponte also called for shorter trials and an end to cross-examination of witnesses by the defence, saying they should not be victimised again.
She also condemned the practice of allowing prisoners on trial to go home for the Christmas holidays, from which 12 defendants had benefited this year.
During her eight years as the world's most powerful criminal lawyer, Carla Del Ponte has helped to bring many war crimes suspects to court and has become a champion to victims seeking justice.During her eight years as the world's most powerful criminal lawyer, Carla Del Ponte has helped to bring many war crimes suspects to court and has become a champion to victims seeking justice.
SUSPECTS STILL AT LARGE Radovan KaradzicRatko MladicStojan ZupljaninGoran Hadzic class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/1809185.stm">Profile: Carla del Ponte She is to become the Swiss ambassador to Argentina in the new year.
But she told the UN Security Council this week that she still wanted to see the arrest of the Tribunal's two top fugitives.
"The fact that Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic are still at large undermines the very idea of international justice," she told the UN Security Council last week.
Between them, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic face 16 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the laws of war in Bosnia-Herzegovina between April 1992 and July 1995.Between them, Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic face 16 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the laws of war in Bosnia-Herzegovina between April 1992 and July 1995.
They were charged and indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague in 2005, but remain at large.They were charged and indicted by the UN war crimes tribunal at The Hague in 2005, but remain at large.
Also at large are Stojan Zupljanin and Goran Hadzic.Also at large are Stojan Zupljanin and Goran Hadzic.