Serbs angered by another UN war crimes acquittal

The mood in Belgrade is indignant following the acquittal yesterday in the UN War Crimes Tribunal of former Muslim guerilla leader Ramush Haradinaj, accused of atrocities against Serbs during the war in Kosovo. He was welcomed as a hero in Pristina, where there is already speculation he may attempt to be re-elected prime minister. In Belgrade there were calls for a severing of all ties with Kosovo, and condemnation of the court for a perceived bias against Serbs. “The whole of Serbia is shocked at the acquittal verdict that Ramush Haradinaj has received in The hague. This does not contribute to overall peace and stability in the region. We have been, in a way, prepared for this outcome. We knew what was going to happen, because we now we know how the Hague tribunal works,” said Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. Earlier this month the court freed two Croat generals accused of war crimes against the Serbs, so the latest verdict is a bitter pill to swallow in Belgrade.