BBC News | Europe | UK warns top Serbs

BBC News Online: World: Europe

Tuesday, March 30, 1999 Published at 03:55 GMT 04:55 UK

UK warns top Serbs

UK warns top Serbs
The UK Government has threatened key Serbian leaders controlling forces in Kosovo with prosecution for war crimes.

UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said those responsible for the terror unleashed in Kosovo will be hunted down, arrested and brought before the International War Crimes Tribunal.

"It will not be a defence to say: `I was following orders'," Mr Cook warned.

"We know what is happening, we do not believe that you, the field commanders, do not know what is happening and if you know, you have a responsibility to stop it."

Those listed in the government briefings were:

Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic

Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Sainovic

Interior Minister Vlajko Stoliljkovic

Head of State Security Radomir Markovic

Deputy Chief of General Staff Colonel-General Dragolub Ojdanic

Chief of Staff 3rd Army (Kosovo operations) Lt Col General Nebojsa Pavkovic

Commander 52 Corps (operations against KLA) Major-General Vladimir Lazerevic

British Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Charles Guthrie said: "These are the men on whose shoulders lies the responsibility for policing Serbia.

"Their job is to enforce the law, not to act outside it. We will be watching these individuals, and many others.

"If they commit war crimes they will be brought to justice," he said.

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