United Nations Radio

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia has acquitted two former commanders of the Kosovo Liberation Army of war crimes and and crimes against humanity.

Ramush Haradinaj and Idriz Balaj, along with Lahi Brahimaj, who was sentenced to six years imprisonment, had been charged with participating in a joint criminal enterprise to consolidate the Kosovo Liberation Army's total control over areas of northwestern Kosovo in 1998.

The three also allegedly participated in the unlawful removal and mistreatment of Serb Kosovar Roma/Egyptian and Kosovar Albanian citizens. In acquitting them, the court argued that the prosecution did not always allow the Chamber to conclude whether a crime was committed or whether the KLA was involved as alleged. Olga Kavran is the Spokesperson for the Prosecution:

"The Prosecutor is particularly concerned and takes very seriously the issue that is highlighted by the Judges in the summary of the judgment and that's the issue of the problem and difficulties of securing the testimony of a large number of witnesses. The Judges went to say that many cited fear as a prominent reason for not wanting to appear before the chambers to give evidence. The judges also said that the chamber gained a strong impression that the trial was being held in an atmosphere that witnesses felt unsafe due to a number of factors". Olga Kavran.

For UN Radio, this is Gerry Adams.

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