UN Judge: Ratko Mladic Intended to Conduct Shelling in Sarajevo

A May 29, 2011 file photo shows Bosnian Serb protesters holding posters depicting former Bosnian Serb army chief Ratko Mladic, during a protest in Mladic's hometown of Kalinovik, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Photo: AP

The United Nations’ Yugoslav war crimes tribunal has passed judgment on former Bosnian Serb military chief Gen. Ratko Mladic, who was accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes during Bosnia’s devastating 1992-1995 war.

The court has convicted Mr. Mladic of genocide and crimes against humanity and sentenced him to life in prison for atrocities perpetrated during the war.

The court in The Hague convicted Mr. Mladic of 10 of 11 counts in a dramatic climax to a groundbreaking effort to seek justice for the wars in the former Yugoslavia.

Presiding Judge Alphons Orie read out the judgment Wednesday after ordering Mr. Mladic out of the courtroom over an angry outburst.

Mr. Mladic was found guilty of commanding forces responsible for crimes including the worst atrocities of the war — the deadly three-year siege of the Bosnian capital, Sarajevo, and the 1995 massacre of some 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the eastern enclave of Srebrenica.

A lawyer said Mr. Mladic will appeal his genocide convictions. Dragan Ivetic said that “it is certain that we will file an appeal and that the appeal will be successful.”

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