Kosovo fails to pave way for tribunal to try wartime leaders for alleged war crimes

Published July 23, 2015

Kosovo's Parliament has failed to pass constitutional amendments that would allow the establishment of a special court to prosecute war crimes including the killing of hundreds of Serb civilians.

In a major blow to relations between Kosovo and its main international backer, the United States, the 120-seat legislature voted 75-7 on Friday in favor of the amendments. A two-thirds majority of 80 votes was needed to approve the changes.

A European Union investigation probed alleged crimes committed during Kosovo's war for independence from Serbia, but the special court must be established to issue indictments.

A 2010 Council of Europe report claimed former rebel leader turned politician Hashim Thaci and other Kosovo guerrillas ran a criminal ring in 1999 that targeted Serbs, Romas and also ethnic Albanians.

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