UN accuses Yugoslavia of harbouring war criminals

The chief prosecutor at the UN War Crimes Tribunal in the Hague has accused the Yugoslav government of harbouring Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic, who is wanted by the UN.

Carla del Ponte said Mr Mladic is living in Belgrade under the protection of the Yugoslav army with the government’s consent. Yugoslavia’s Interior Minister, Zoran Zivkovic, rejected the allegations.

Ms del Ponte also said today that the authorities in Republika Srbska, the Serb-controlled part of Bosnia established after the 1995-1995 war, are harbouring Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb political leader who is also wanted by the UN.

Both Karadzic and Mladic have been in hiding since 1996, when they were indicted for genocide in connection with the war.