Serbian general tried over Kosovo

Serbian general tried over Kosovo

Vlastimir Djordjevic is accused of trying to expel ethnic Albanians
A former Serbian general has gone on trial at the International War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague, accused of war crimes during the Kosovo conflict.

Vlastimir Djordjevic was allegedly involved in the murders of hundreds of ethnic Albanians and the deportation of 800,000 others from Kosovo in 1998-99.

He was a close aide to the late Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, who died in tribunal custody in 2006.

He denies charges of deportation, murder and persecution.

The indictment alleges he was part of a joint criminal enterprise aimed at expelling the majority of the Kosovo Albanian population to ensure continued Serbian control over the territory.

His trial is the fifth and last case concerning war crimes in Kosovo to be held at the tribunal, which is due to wrap up its work by 2012.

The judgement in another case against the former Serbian President Milan Milutinovic and five co-accused, for war crimes in Kosovo, is expected within months.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/ukfs_news/hi/newsid_7850000/newsid_7854500/7854521.stm