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Kosovo Figures Face Prosecution For War Crimes


Senior officials of the former Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) face indictment by a special EU court for alleged killings, abductions, and sexual violence.

The threat of indictments comes in a report published on July 29 in Brussels by Clint Williamson, a prosecutor appointed by the European Union to investigate ethnic cleansing committed in Kosovo during the 1998-99 Kosovo war.

Williamson said the suspects bear responsibility for a campaign of persecution directed at minority populations and Kosovo Albanians believed to be political opponents of the UCK leadership.

Many former UCK commanders went on to leadership positions after Kosovo declared independence in 2008.

Williamson also said there were "compelling indications" that up to 10 captives were killed to have their organs harvested for illegal trafficking during the war.

However, he said the level of evidence is not yet sufficient to prosecute the alleged crimes.

Based on reporting by "The Guardian" and AP

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