PRISTINA, Feb 17 (Hina) - Four former officers of the Kosovo Liberation Army were brought before a court in Pristina on Monday on charges of war crimes against ethnic Albanians committed during 1998 and 1999.
PRISTINA, Feb 17 (Hina) - Four former officers of the Kosovo
Liberation Army were brought before a court in Pristina on Monday on
charges of war crimes against ethnic Albanians committed during
1998 and 1999. #L#
Rustem Mustafa, also known as Commander Remi, Nazif Mahmeti, Latif
Gashi, and Naim Kadriu are accused of killing Albanian civilians
who were charged with collaborating with Serbian authorities
during the Kosovo conflict.
Forty witnesses should take the stand in the trial, of whom 15 will
have witness protection.
Presiding an international panel of judges is Briton Timothy
Clayson, while the prosecution is represented by Canada's Gary
McCuarge.
The trial is held in a sports hall under tight security measures.
Many citizens rallied in front of the building. In Podujevo, where
the accused come from, Albanians protested en masse, demanding
their release.
Toma Gashi, one of the attorneys in the proceedings, has said this
is a political trial aimed at belittling the liberation struggle in
Kosovo.
(hina) ha