The Hague, 3 August 2001 (RFE/RL) -- A spokesman for the UN war crimes tribunal said today that three senior Bosnian Muslim military officers are to be transferred to The Hague to await trial for crimes committed during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war. Retired Bosnian army generals Mehmed Alagic and Enver Hadzihasanovic and a senior officer, Amir Kubura, surrendered to Bosnian authorities yesterday after being served warrants.
Graham Blewitt confirmed that retired Bosnian army generals are indicted war criminals in connection with acts committed in central Bosnia in 1993 and 1994.
Bosnia's Justice Ministry said in a statement yesterday it agreed to transfer the suspects to The Hague.
The ministry said the three voluntarily turned themselves in after Muslim-Croat federation police presented them with a detention warrant issued by the Supreme Court.
UN tribunal spokesman Jim Landale said these will not be the first Bosnian Muslim defendants at the tribunal, but they are by far the most senior.
"They have been indicted for violations of the laws and customs of war and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, and this includes murders, willful killings, violence to life and person, inhumane treatment, unlawful confinement, and wanton destruction."
Landale said that the three commanding officers are to be tried for leading the Mujahadeen, or holy war, fighters.
(For more on this story, please see: Bosnia: First Genocide Verdict May Bolster Other Cases.)
Graham Blewitt confirmed that retired Bosnian army generals are indicted war criminals in connection with acts committed in central Bosnia in 1993 and 1994.
Bosnia's Justice Ministry said in a statement yesterday it agreed to transfer the suspects to The Hague.
The ministry said the three voluntarily turned themselves in after Muslim-Croat federation police presented them with a detention warrant issued by the Supreme Court.
UN tribunal spokesman Jim Landale said these will not be the first Bosnian Muslim defendants at the tribunal, but they are by far the most senior.
"They have been indicted for violations of the laws and customs of war and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, and this includes murders, willful killings, violence to life and person, inhumane treatment, unlawful confinement, and wanton destruction."
Landale said that the three commanding officers are to be tried for leading the Mujahadeen, or holy war, fighters.
(For more on this story, please see: Bosnia: First Genocide Verdict May Bolster Other Cases.)