Ratko Mladić, the Bosnian-Serb general, who was serving a life sentence for the Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo during the Balkan wars, died in prison aged 84. Known as the “Butcher of Bosnia,” Mladić &nbsp;was convicted of genocide for orchestrating the 1995 killing of at least 8,000 Muslims in the UN-designated “safe area” Srebrenica. It is described as the worst massacre in Europe since the second world war.&nbsp;He was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in 2017. He was found guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity, persecution, extermination, murder, terror, unlawful attacks on civilians and hostage-taking.&nbsp;“Unimaginable savagery", is how the ICTY Judge Fouad Riad had described the actions of the former general &nbsp;after his conviction.&nbsp;Mladić died while serving a life sentence at the UN Detention Unit in The Hague, said his lawyer Dragan Ivetić. He spent over 15 years in prison and had been in ill health after having a series of strokes.&nbsp;The Bosnian-Serb general made multiple appeals and requests for release on medical grounds but failed. His latest appeal was just last week in which his lawyer sought early release on humanitarian grounds, saying that his “overall condition has rapidly declined”, however, the court declined the request.&nbsp;<h2>What was the Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo</h2>&nbsp;After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Mladić became the Commander of the General Staff of the Army of the breakaway Serb Republic in Bosnia. &nbsp;Under his command, Bosnian Serb forces besieged Sarajevo in 1992, positioning themselves on the surrounding hills overlooking the city. For two years, they trapped residents in the valley below, subjecting civilians to frequent shelling and sniper attacks. More than 10,000 people, including many children, were killed during the siege.&nbsp;In July 1995, Mladić led an assault on Srebrenica, a Muslim-majority enclave designated a “safe area” by the United Nations. The ensuing massacre is regarded as Europe’s worst atrocity since World War II, with more than 7,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys killed within just a few days.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mladić died while serving a life sentence at the UN Detention Unit in The Hague. He spent over 15 years in prison and had been in ill health after having a series of strokes.

Ratko Mladić, the Bosnian-Serb general, who was serving a life sentence for the Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo during the Balkan wars, died in prison aged 84. Known as the “Butcher of Bosnia,” Mladić was convicted of genocide for orchestrating the 1995 killing of at least 8,000 Muslims in the UN-designated “safe area” Srebrenica. It is described as the worst massacre in Europe since the second world war. He was convicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in 2017. He was found guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity, persecution, extermination, murder, terror, unlawful attacks on civilians and hostage-taking. “Unimaginable savagery", is how the ICTY Judge Fouad Riad had described the actions of the former general after his conviction. Mladić died while serving a life sentence at the UN Detention Unit in The Hague, said his lawyer Dragan Ivetić. He spent over 15 years in prison and had been in ill health after having a series of strokes. The Bosnian-Serb general made multiple appeals and requests for release on medical grounds but failed. His latest appeal was just last week in which his lawyer sought early release on humanitarian grounds, saying that his “overall condition has rapidly declined”, however, the court declined the request. What was the Srebrenica massacre and the siege of Sarajevo After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Mladić became the Commander of the General Staff of the Army of the breakaway Serb Republic in Bosnia. Under his command, Bosnian Serb forces besieged Sarajevo in 1992, positioning themselves on the surrounding hills overlooking the city. For two years, they trapped residents in the valley below, subjecting civilians to frequent shelling and sniper attacks. More than 10,000 people, including many children, were killed during the siege. In July 1995, Mladić led an assault on Srebrenica, a Muslim-majority enclave designated a “safe area” by the United Nations. The ensuing massacre is regarded as Europe’s worst atrocity since World War II, with more than 7,000 Bosniak Muslim men and boys killed within just a few days.

Mladić died while serving a life sentence at the UN Detention Unit in The Hague. He spent over 15 years in prison and had been in ill health after having a series of strokes.

Ratko Mladić, Bosnian-Serb general behind Srebrenica massacre dies aged 84

The UN tribunal at The Hague on Tuesday upheld the genocide conviction and life sentence against former Bosnian Serb military commander&nbsp;Ratko Mladic.

The former Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic was held guilty for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre during the Bosnian conflict in 1992-95.

The five-judge tribunal said: "The appeals chamber affirmed the sentence of life imprisonment imposed on Mr Mladic by the trial chamber."

According to reports, several thousand Muslim men and boys were killed in the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica in 1995 by Bosnian Serb forces.

Mladic, 79, was captured in 2011 and was found guilty in 2017 of carrying out "ethnic cleansing" to drive Muslims and Bosnians out of key areas.

Mladic dubbed the "Butcher of Bosnia" was ordered to serve life in prison after he was convicted but he had appealed against the verdict.

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia&nbsp;(ICTY) has convicted 90 people. Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was transferred to a British prison in May earlier.

"The accused’s acts were so instrumental to the commission of the crimes that without them, the crimes would not have been committed as they were," the court declared while handing out the verdict against Mladic.

US President Biden in a statement said: "This historic judgment shows that those who commit horrific crimes will be held accountable."&nbsp;

&nbsp;"It also reinforces our shared resolve to prevent future atrocities from occurring anywhere in the world," the US President added.

(With inputs from Agencies)

The UN tribunal at The Hague on Tuesday upheld the genocide conviction and life sentence against former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic. The former Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic was held guilty for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre during the Bosnian conflict in 1992-95.

The UN tribunal at The Hague on Tuesday upheld the genocide conviction and life sentence against former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic. The former Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic was held guilty for his role in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre during the Bosnian conflict in 1992-95. The five-judge tribunal said: "The appeals chamber affirmed the sentence of life imprisonment imposed on Mr Mladic by the trial chamber." According to reports, several thousand Muslim men and boys were killed in the eastern Bosnian town of Srebrenica in 1995 by Bosnian Serb forces. Mladic, 79, was captured in 2011 and was found guilty in 2017 of carrying out "ethnic cleansing" to drive Muslims and Bosnians out of key areas. Mladic dubbed the "Butcher of Bosnia" was ordered to serve life in prison after he was convicted but he had appealed against the verdict. The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has convicted 90 people. Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was transferred to a British prison in May earlier. "The accused’s acts were so instrumental to the commission of the crimes that without them, the crimes would not have been committed as they were," the court declared while handing out the verdict against Mladic. US President Biden in a statement said: "This historic judgment shows that those who commit horrific crimes will be held accountable." "It also reinforces our shared resolve to prevent future atrocities from occurring anywhere in the world," the US President added. (With inputs from Agencies)

UN tribunal upholds genocide conviction against ex-Bosnian Serb military commander Mladic

Srebrenica massacre: Bosnia Muslims mourn their dead after 25 years

Bosnian Muslims on Saturday mark 25 years since the Srebrenica massacre, the worst atrocity on European soil since World War II, with the memorial ceremony sharply reduced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Organisers said the number of people attending the anniversary -- usually in the tens of thousands -- is likely to be lower than usual because of lockdown measures aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19.&nbsp;

Proceedings are scheduled to start in the morning.&nbsp;

Then, at 1100 GMT, the remains of nine victims identified over the past year will be laid to rest at the memorial cemetery in Potocari, a village just outside Srebrenica that served as the base for the UN protection force, FORPRONU, during the conflict.&nbsp;

On July 11, 1995, after capturing the ill-fated town, Serb forces killed more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in a few days.

The episode -- labelled as genocide by two international courts -- came at the end of a 1992-1995 war between Bosnia's Croats, Muslims and Serbs that claimed some 100,000 lives.&nbsp;

<img alt="Srebrenica massacre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7b4a91fe-0081-4c3f-a01d-960385ccdd2d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Srebrenica%20AFP%201.jpg" />

So far, the remains of nearly 6,900 victims have been found and identified from more than 80 mass graves.&nbsp;

Bosnian Serb wartime military chief general Ratko Mladic, still revered as a hero by many Serbs, was sentenced to life in prison by a UN court in 2017 over war crimes including the Srebrenica genocide. He is awaiting the decision on his appeal.

Radovan Karadzic, another Bosnian Serb wartime political leader, was also sentenced to life in prison in The Hague.&nbsp;

WAR AGAINST DENIAL

The Srebrenica massacre is the only episode of the Bosnian conflict to be described as genocide by the international community.

And while for Bosnian Muslims recognising the scale of the atrocity is a necessity for lasting peace, for most Serbs -- leaders and laypeople in both Bosnia and Serbia -- the use of the word genocide remains unacceptable.

In the run-up to the anniversary, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic described Srebrenica as "something that we should not and cannot be proud of", but he has never publicly uttered the word "genocide".

Several thousand Serbs and Muslims live side by side in impoverished Srebrenica, a lifeless town in eastern Bosnia with just a few shops in its centre.

On Friday, the town's Serbian mayor Mladen Grujicic -- who was elected in 2016 after a campaign based on genocide denial -- said that "there is new evidence every day that denies the current presentation of everything that has happened".

<img alt="Srebrenica massacre" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e4b12c10-40ac-4cfc-b380-18e535924589" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Srebrenica%20AFP%202.jpg" />

Bosnian Serb political leader Milorad Dodik has also described the massacre as a "myth".

But on Friday, the Muslim member of Bosnia's joint presidency, Sefik Dzaferovic, said: "We will tirelessly insist on the truth, on justice and on the need to try all those who have committed this crime".

"We will fight against those who deny the genocide and glorify its perpetrators," he said at the memorial centre where he attended a collective prayer.

In order to avoid large crowds on Saturday, organisers have invited people to visit the memorial centre over the whole month of July.

A number of different exhibitions are on display, including paintings by Bosnian artist Safet Zec.&nbsp;

Another installation, entitled "Why Aren't You Here?" by US-Bosnian artist Aida Sehovic, comprises more than 8,000 cups of coffee spread out on the cemetery's lawn.&nbsp;

"We still haven't answered the question why they are no longer here," she told AFP.

"How could this have happened in the heart of Europe, that people were killed in such a terrible way in a UN protected area? Not to mention the fact that the genocide is still being denied."

Bosnian Muslims on Saturday mark 25 years since the Srebrenica massacre, the worst atrocity on European soil since World War II, with the memorial ceremony sharply reduced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bosnian Muslims on Saturday mark 25 years since the Srebrenica massacre, the worst atrocity on European soil since World War II, with the memorial ceremony sharply reduced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Organisers said the number of people attending the anniversary -- usually in the tens of thousands -- is likely to be lower than usual because of lockdown measures aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19. Proceedings are scheduled to start in the morning. Then, at 1100 GMT, the remains of nine victims identified over the past year will be laid to rest at the memorial cemetery in Potocari, a village just outside Srebrenica that served as the base for the UN protection force, FORPRONU, during the conflict. On July 11, 1995, after capturing the ill-fated town, Serb forces killed more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica in a few days. The episode -- labelled as genocide by two international courts -- came at the end of a 1992-1995 war between Bosnia's Croats, Muslims and Serbs that claimed some 100,000 lives. So far, the remains of nearly 6,900 victims have been found and identified from more than 80 mass graves. Bosnian Serb wartime military chief general Ratko Mladic, still revered as a hero by many Serbs, was sentenced to life in prison by a UN court in 2017 over war crimes including the Srebrenica genocide. He is awaiting the decision on his appeal. Radovan Karadzic, another Bosnian Serb wartime political leader, was also sentenced to life in prison in The Hague. WAR AGAINST DENIAL The Srebrenica massacre is the only episode of the Bosnian conflict to be described as genocide by the international community. And while for Bosnian Muslims recognising the scale of the atrocity is a necessity for lasting peace, for most Serbs -- leaders and laypeople in both Bosnia and Serbia -- the use of the word genocide remains unacceptable. In the run-up to the anniversary, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic described Srebrenica as "something that we should not and cannot be proud of", but he has never publicly uttered the word "genocide". Several thousand Serbs and Muslims live side by side in impoverished Srebrenica, a lifeless town in eastern Bosnia with just a few shops in its centre. On Friday, the town's Serbian mayor Mladen Grujicic -- who was elected in 2016 after a campaign based on genocide denial -- said that "there is new evidence every day that denies the current presentation of everything that has happened". Bosnian Serb political leader Milorad Dodik has also described the massacre as a "myth". But on Friday, the Muslim member of Bosnia's joint presidency, Sefik Dzaferovic, said: "We will tirelessly insist on the truth, on justice and on the need to try all those who have committed this crime". "We will fight against those who deny the genocide and glorify its perpetrators," he said at the memorial centre where he attended a collective prayer. In order to avoid large crowds on Saturday, organisers have invited people to visit the memorial centre over the whole month of July. A number of different exhibitions are on display, including paintings by Bosnian artist Safet Zec. Another installation, entitled "Why Aren't You Here?" by US-Bosnian artist Aida Sehovic, comprises more than 8,000 cups of coffee spread out on the cemetery's lawn. "We still haven't answered the question why they are no longer here," she told AFP. "How could this have happened in the heart of Europe, that people were killed in such a terrible way in a UN protected area? Not to mention the fact that the genocide is still being denied."

Bosnia Muslims mourn their dead 25 years after Srebrenica massacre

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Ratko Mladić, Bosnian-Serb general behind Srebrenica massacre dies aged 84

UN tribunal upholds genocide conviction against ex-Bosnian Serb military commander Mladic

Srebrenica massacre: Bosnia Muslims mourn their dead after 25 years

Bosnia Muslims mourn their dead 25 years after Srebrenica massacre