Europe

Srebrenica massacre trial adjourned in Serbia

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Family members of killed Bosnian Muslim men and boys arrive at the special court building in Belgrade, Serbia, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Eight former Bosnian Serb special police troops went on trial Monday in Serbia charged with taking part in the massacre of thousands of Muslims in Srebrenica in 1995 - a landmark proceedings testing the Balkan country's proclaimed pledge to deal with its wartime past. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

A Bosnian Muslim woman waits for the start of a trial in front of the Serbia's War Crimes court building in Belgrade, Serbia, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Eight former Bosnian Serb special police troops went on trial Monday in Serbia charged with taking part in the massacre of thousands of Muslims in Srebrenica in 1995 - 2a landmark proceedings testing the Balkan country's proclaimed pledge to deal with its wartime past. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

Bosnian Muslim woman from Srebrenica Munira Subasic waits for the start of a trial in front of the Serbia's War Crimes court building in Belgrade, Serbia, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016. Eight former Bosnian Serb special police troops went on trial Monday in Serbia charged with taking part in the massacre of thousands of Muslims in Srebrenica in 1995 - a landmark proceedings testing the Balkan country's proclaimed pledge to deal with its wartime past. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

The trial of eight former Bosnian Serb police officers charged with taking part in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre has been adjourned in a Serbian court after defense lawyers demanded the replacement of a three-judge panel.

The long-awaited trial at the War Crimes court is seen as a test of Serbia's pledge to deal with its wartime past and an important step in Balkan reconciliation efforts more than two decades after the Bosnian war ended.

A ruling on the defense demand is expected by Tuesday.

Around 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb troops in Srebrenica — Europe's worst atrocity since World War II.

Serbia has promised to punish war criminals to advance toward EU membership. Its nationalist government has faced criticism for stalling on that pledge.