Kosovo genocide suspects escape

UN says it will no longer send prisoners to Mitrovica hospitals

Three Kosovo Serbs accused of genocide have escaped from hospital in Mitrovica where they were being treated for various ailments while awaiting trial.

The United Nations administration in Kosovo said the three fled during the night, shortly after the officer on duty checked that they were in the room they shared.

Officers on duty at the hospital report the detainees were in bed, apparently sleeping. When the room was checked sometime later, the detainees were gone

UN spokeswoman

The UN is holding an internal investigation into the case. Its administrator in Mitrovica, William Nash, has met the regional police commander whose officers were responsible for guarding the group.

Earlier this year, six other Serb prisoners managed to escape custody in Mitrovica.

Ailments

UN spokeswoman Claire Trevena said the accused, who had been moved from a detention centre to the hospital, slipped out early on Friday.

"Officers on duty at the hospital report the detainees were in bed, apparently sleeping," at 2300 GMT, Ms Trevena said. "When the room was checked sometime later, the detainees were gone."

Several genocide suspects have broken out of custody

Two of the Serbs, Dragan Jovanovic, 50, and Vlastimir Aleksic, 54, had been charged with genocide, while the third, Dragica Peica, 34, had been charged with war crimes, Trevena said.

Mr Jovanovic was receiving treatment for lead poisoning. Mr Aleksic was in hospital for high blood pressure, while Mr Peica was being treated for kidney stones.

The suspects, who were arrested last summer, had been transferred to the hospital on the advice of doctors from the Nato-led peacekeeping force and UN police.

The UN has said prisoners would no longer be sent to the hospital in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica.