Serb army sought revenge against civilians court told

Yugoslav army forces made no attempt to dislodge ethnic Albanian rebels in Kosovo in 1999, but instead sought revenge against civilians who supported them, the former British defence attache in Belgrade told Slobodan Milosevic’s war crimes trial today.

In a second day of evidence, retired Colonel John Crosland clashed with the former Yugoslav president.

Milosevic claimed the army had been engaged in ‘‘perfectly legal counterterrorism activities.’’

‘‘Attacks against terrorists ... is pure military business, but when the troops are looting and burning ... it’s a revenge against, in a majority, innocent people,’’ Crosland said.

Crosland said the destruction of half of Kosovo also had been counterproductive for Serb authorities, only building more popular support for the rebels.

‘‘The authorities applied wrong tactics,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t understand why you did this.’’

Milosevic insisted that Yugoslav security forces attacked villages regarded as ‘‘terrorist bases’’ following attacks on police and military positions.

Milosevic has been charged with five counts of murder, deportation and persecution in Kosovo in 1999.

Prosecutors in The Hague claim he bears ultimate responsibility for abuses by Yugoslav forces in the province, where ethnic Albanian militants were conducting a guerrilla campaign for independence.

He faces another 61 counts of war crimes, including genocide, stemming from the 1991-95 wars in Croatia and Bosnia.