ICTY FORBIDS PROSECUTION TO CONTACT WITNESSES IN BLASKIC CASE

THE HAGUE, April 7 (Hina) - The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) trial chamber which is hearing the trial against the commander of the Croatian Defence Council in Bosnia-Herzegovina, General Tihomir Blaskic, on Wednesday accepted a motion by Blaskic's defence team that any contact between prosecutors and witnesses the ICTY called to testify last month be forbidden. The Tribunal said the trial chamber had summonsed six key commanders of international forces in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the war in this country, as well as commanders of Moslem and Croat forces, to testify about crimes Blaskic has been indicted of which took place in central Bosnia in 1993. Trial chamber president Claude Jorda announced the arrival of witnesses for after the defence finishes presenting evidence and witnesses. The prosecution and defence teams will be able to question witnesses only during their testimonies and after, the Tribunal said. Jorda warned the prosecutors that contact was forbidden with witnesses regarding the Blaskic case, and that they must assess themselves where to draw the line so as not to violate the decision of the trial chamber. (hina) lml