Former Bosnian Croat General Blaskic Arrives In Zagreb

General Blaskic on his return to Croatia today 2 Aug 2004 -- A former Bosnian Croat general convicted by the UN war crimes tribunal arrived in Zagreb today after the Hague court cleared him of several charges and reduced his 45-year prison term to nine years.

Tihomir Blaskic had been imprisoned at The Hague since 1996. He was convicted in 2000 for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and breaches of the Geneva Conventions committed during the 1992-95 Bosnian war.

But on 29 July, the UN court cleared him of 17 of the 20 charges. The three remaining charges upheld against him were for unlawful detainment of civilians, forced labor and inhumane treatment of detainees.

Blaskic's lawyers had argued that Croatian intelligence documents discovered after Blaskic's trial exonerate him and implicate others.

(AFP)