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General Delic, Muslim convicted of war crimes, dies

Other News Materials 16 April 2010 14:55 (UTC +04:00)

Rasim Delic, a Bosnian wartime commander who was convicted of war crimes against Serbs, died Friday morning aged 61, Sarajevo media reported.

Delic was an officer in the former Yugoslav army until war broke out in Bosnia following its declaration of independence in 1992. A year later he was appointed the top commander of Muslim forces, DPA reported.

The Bosnian war pitted uneasy allies Muslims and Croats against Serbs, who were supported by Belgrade.

The Hague-based United Nations' tribunal sentenced the already retired Delic to three years in prison for crimes against Serb prisoners of war, committed by soldiers within his chain of command.

He was released after the verdict was read out in September 2008, as he had spent two-thirds of his sentence in custody before and during the 11-month trial.

Despite criticism he received from some Muslim leaders over his apparent reluctance to leave the Yugoslav army earlier, Delic received a hero's welcome on his return home.

He succumbed after a bout with cancer, reports said.

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