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Srebrenica massacre marked by Westminster Abbey service Srebrenica massacre marked by Westminster Abbey service
(about 1 hour later)
About 2,000 people have attended a service in Westminster Abbey to remember thousands of Muslim men and boys from Srebrenica killed by Bosnian Serb forces 20 years ago. Thousands of men and boys killed in the Srebrenica genocide 20 years ago have been remembered at a service at Westminster Abbey.
David Cameron led tributes ahead of the service, saying people "must never, ever forget what happened".David Cameron led tributes ahead of the service, saying people "must never, ever forget what happened".
The massacre in 1995 was the worst in Europe since World War Two.The massacre in 1995 was the worst in Europe since World War Two.
A mother, who lost several members of her family, said she hoped the perpetrators would face justice.A mother, who lost several members of her family, said she hoped the perpetrators would face justice.
The genocide came amid the bloody break-up of Yugoslavia into independent states. The genocide, which killed about 8,000 Bosnian Muslims, came amid the bloody break-up of Yugoslavia into independent states.
Serbia backed the Bosnian Serb forces fighting the Muslim-led Bosnian government during the conflict.Serbia backed the Bosnian Serb forces fighting the Muslim-led Bosnian government during the conflict.
In July 1995, in what was supposed to have been a UN safe haven, Bosnian Serb forces took control of Srebrenica. They rounded up and killed the men and boys and buried them in mass graves. The atrocity took place a few months before the end of the Bosnian war, when 20,000 refugees fled to Srebrenica to escape Serb forces.
The congregation listened to a speech from Munira Subasic, president of the Mothers of Srebrenica association, as she recounted what she remembered. She lost several members of her family during the massacre. It was an enclave protected by UN Dutch soldiers but was overrun by paramilitary troops led by the Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic in July 1995.
They rounded up and killed the men and boys, and buried them in mass graves.
The congregation listened to a speech from Munira Subasic, president of the Mothers of Srebrenica association, as she recounted what she remembered.
"Although it has been 20 years since this inhuman atrocity, some mothers are still searching for the bones of their children," she said.
"That is our life now - our biggest problem and our greatest mission."
Speaking after the service she told the BBC: "They took my son away from me and put him in a white house. Eighteen years after I only find two little bones and gave him a burial.Speaking after the service she told the BBC: "They took my son away from me and put him in a white house. Eighteen years after I only find two little bones and gave him a burial.
"I appeal upon all good people lets make things better while we still can, so that the criminals may be brought in front of justice to have their names as war criminals, just as our kids have their names as victims.""I appeal upon all good people lets make things better while we still can, so that the criminals may be brought in front of justice to have their names as war criminals, just as our kids have their names as victims."
'Doubles our determination'
Communities and Local Government Minister Greg Clarke gave an address on behalf of Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, who was unable to attend the service.
He said the gathering to mark the 20th anniversary "doubles our determination never to forget".
"It demands that we all try to understand why those who placed their hope in the international community on the eve of genocide found that those hopes were dashed," he said.
Survivor Nedzad Avdic told the BBC how he was shot at and fell among a line of dead bodies.Survivor Nedzad Avdic told the BBC how he was shot at and fell among a line of dead bodies.
He said: "When they finished the shooting I prayed to die, because it was unbearable for me. I waited for dying. "When they finished the shooting I prayed to die, because it was unbearable for me. I waited for dying," he said.
"I never thought I could save myself. I noticed someone move in the middle of the bodies. I asked him if he was alive. Within 10 (minutes) we were in the bushes." "I never thought I could save myself. I noticed someone move in the middle of the bodies. I asked him if he was alive. Within 10 minutes we were in the bushes."
'Agony continues''Agony continues'
The service, which began at 12:00 BST was organised by the UK charitable initiative Remembering Srebrenica, and is being followed by a reception hosted by David Cameron at 10 Downing Street. The service, which was also attended by the President of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegovic, was organised by the UK charitable initiative Remembering Srebrenica, and was followed by a reception hosted by David Cameron at 10 Downing Street.
There will also be a formal reception in the Houses of Parliament hosted by Speaker of the House John Bercow.There will also be a formal reception in the Houses of Parliament hosted by Speaker of the House John Bercow.
Mr Cameron said: "We must never, ever forget what happened". Mr Cameron said: "The 20th anniversary is a moment to remember the many thousands who lost their lives, to remember their families and the missing, and the fact that for so many - including the Mothers of Srebrenica - the agony continues every day, undimmed by the passage of time.
"The 20th anniversary is a moment to remember the many thousands who lost their lives, to remember their families and the missing, and the fact that for so many - including the Mothers of Srebrenica - the agony continues every day, undimmed by the passage of time.
"We must reaffirm our determination to act to prevent genocide in the future.""We must reaffirm our determination to act to prevent genocide in the future."
Lord Ashdown, who became the European Union's High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2002, told the Abbey: "Whether through error, misjudgment, an inability to comprehend, or just inattention, we stood aside when we should not have done. Lord Ashdown, who became the European Union's High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2002, told the congregation at the Abbey: "Whether through error, misjudgement, an inability to comprehend, or just inattention, we stood aside when we should not have done.
"We should therefore remember Srebrenica, not just to bear witness to those who suffered, but also as a warning to us all of what happens when we turn our back.""We should therefore remember Srebrenica, not just to bear witness to those who suffered, but also as a warning to us all of what happens when we turn our back."
Gen Mladic, who was in charge of the troops at the time of the massacre, was on the run for 16 years before being arrested in 2011 in northern Serbia, where he had been living under an assumed name.
He is still on trial for war crimes at the UN tribunal in The Hague.
About 100 events are being organised across the UK over coming days in memory of the genocide.About 100 events are being organised across the UK over coming days in memory of the genocide.
A commemorative event will be held on Wednesday in Cardiff, hosted by First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones.A commemorative event will be held on Wednesday in Cardiff, hosted by First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will host a memorial service at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, on Friday.Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will host a memorial service at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, on Friday.
The Princess Royal will travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday for Srebrenica Memorial Day. The Princess Royal will represent the UK in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday, which is Srebrenica Memorial Day.
People gathered at Belfast City Hall on Sunday to mark the start of Srebrenica Memorial Week.People gathered at Belfast City Hall on Sunday to mark the start of Srebrenica Memorial Week.
Will you be attending a memorial service? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Will you be attending a memorial service? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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