War-crimes symbol Srebrenica gets Bosnian Serb mayor

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina – Bosnia's Central Election Commission says final election results show that a Bosnian Serb has been elected mayor of Srebrenica, known for the Bosnian Serb massacre of over 8,000 Muslims in 1995 which international courts defined as genocide.

Following the 1992-95 Bosnian war Srebrenica ended up in the Serb part of Bosnia, and the town had Serbian mayors until Camil Durakovic, a Muslim, was elected in 2012.

His election encouraged many survivors of the massacre to return to the town.

State election officials announced Monday the final count of the Oct. 2 vote showed that Mladen Grujicic had 768 more votes than Durakovic.

Returnees say they again fear for their safety, particularly after this weekend when a Serb orthodox priest organized a procession and blessed the municipal building.