Serbia-Montenegro Faces Charges of Genocide

Serbia-Montenegro Faces Charges of Genocide

History will be made today, with the opening of the first trial of a state on war crimes charges. Bosnia-Herzegovina has accused Serbia-Montenegro of genocide during the course of the 1992 to 1995 war. The case will be heard by the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

A ruling is expected by the end of the year. The war claimed at least 100,000 lives, including up to 8,000 in the massacre which took place at Srebrenica. It's hoped the highly complex case will define the nature of the three year conflict.

Demonstrators gathered in cities across Bosnia on Friday to mark the beginning of the hearing. The demonstrations were organised by a number of associations of war victims and veterans.

PHOTO CAPTION

Ratko Mladic, pictured in 1995. (AFP)

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